IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC made club history on Thursday as it announced it had added 17-year-old Rafael Espinoza to its squad as the club’s first USL Academy signing.

“Rafael is a very talented young player from Orange County that has a great future ahead of him,” said Orange County General Manager & EVP Oliver Wyss. “As our first ever USL Academy player signee, he will be in a professional environment that will maximize his development and allow him to learn on a daily basis from top professional coaches and players.”

Espinoza joins the club having spent his youth career with local powerhouse club Slammers FC. The forward will spend the remainder of the 2018 season with Orange County SC before joining the University of California, Irvine in the new year to play college soccer and continue his education.

A program established prior to the 2013 season, USL Academy signings can train and compete alongside professionals without affecting their NCAA eligibility prior to enrolling in university. Among those to have previously competed under USL Academy contracts are current New York Red Bulls forward Derrick Etienne Jr., who competed for the New York Red Bulls II prior to his freshman season at the University of Virginia, and former Saint Louis FC defender Aedan Stanley, who recently headed to Duke University for his freshman season.

Orange County Head Coach Braeden Cloutier said he was excited to begin working with Espinoza as the club continues its pursuit of first place in the USL’s Western Conference.

“I’ve known about him for several years and know what a talented young player he is,” said Cloutier. “This is going to be a great experience for him to work in a competitive professional environment and see if he truly has what it takes to become a professional soccer player.”