Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Xavier Valdez to homegrown contract

The Houston Dynamo have signed 18-year-old goalkeeper Xavier Valdez to a multi-year homegrown contract after finalizing a trade to acquire his rights exclusivity from the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.

Houston traded $50,000 in conditional General Allocation Money to the Red Bulls and NYCFC as part of the trade, with both clubs retaining a percentage of a future transfer fee outside of MLS.

Valdez has been a part of the Dynamo Academy since July 2020, and previously featured as a guest player for the Dynamo in the Generation adidas event.

The goalkeeper has been a regular for the Dynamo Academy U-23 team. He has also spent time training with the first team under the direction of goalkeepers coach Zach Thornton.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to sign Xavier to his first professional contract,” Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said in a release. 

“Since joining the academy in 2020, Xavier has proven to be a goalkeeper with great potential. Xavier has gotten the chance to train extensively with the Dynamo first team, and has shown that he has what it takes to be a great MLS goalkeeper.”

The Dynamo kicked off the 2022 Major League Soccer season with a 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake at PNC Stadium on Sunday. 

The team returns to action on Saturday when visiting Sporting Kansas City.