FC Dallas announced today that it has signed winger Alan Velasco to a four-year Young Designated Player contract extension starting in 2025 with a one-year club option. Velasco will not occupy an international slot as he obtained a U.S. Green Card in March, 2024.
The news was first broke by Carlos Nava. The new contract will reportedly see Velasco locked up with FC Dallas through at least the 2028 season with an option for the 2029 season.
Velasco made his 2024 regular season debut on Aug. 31 versus the Colorado Rapids after spending the majority of the 2024 season recovering from a knee injury sustained in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs first round match against the Seattle Sounders. In the final stretch of the 2024 season, Velasco scored twice and played in eight matches, tallying 371 minutes.
In 2023, Velasco topped Major League Soccer’s 22 Under 22 list. He featured in 28 MLS regular season matches, netting four goals and providing four assists. The midfielder received his first national team call-up with Argentina, scoring in a friendly with the U-23 squad against the Bolivia U-23 national team on Sept. 4, 2023.
BDS Take
Yes, this is the classic (and correct) move by FC Dallas to lock up a key asset for the long haul. Velasco’s previous contract was slated to expire at the end of the 2025 season, though it did have one more option year on it in 2026. I also think it helps position the club for when his salary cap hit increases from being a Young Designated Player to a regular DP when he turns 24 in 2026.
This at least ensures that if someone, say Boca Juniors, comes calling this winter or next summer, their offer has to be really good for the club to make the jump on accepting it.
Lastly, this new deal also signals to me that the club wants to build the team around Velasco and Petar Musa in the attack under Eric Quill. The big question will be if Paul Arriola or Jesus Ferreira will be joining them or moving on to Seattle.
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