LA Galaxy just bolstered its squad with a young player from their own backyard.
Ruben Ramos Jr., 17, of La Puente signed a three-year contract with the Galaxy that will see him stay in L.A. until at least 2027, the club said in a release.
The young forward will play the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season with LA Galaxy II, the MLS side’s development team, before joining the pros in 2025. He already recorded two goals and one assist in nine appearances with LA Galaxy II during the 2023 season.
At just 17, Ramos Jr. is the third youngest LA Galaxy academy product to sign as a Homegrown player and their 19th academy player in club history to sign a professional contract, the club said.
“We are excited to announce Ruben as the latest Galaxy Academy member to sign a Homegrown contract,” said LA Galaxy manager Will Kuntz. “Ruben’s story is a testament to his character and our professional development pathway...he has steadily improved during his time with the [academy], gaining invaluable experience with the U.S. Youth National Team along the way.”
As mentioned by Kuntz, Ramos Jr. is also attracting the attention of United States men’s team coaches; he has already made multiple appearances for USMNT at the U-15 and U-16 levels.
The LA Galaxy play their next match on Sunday against Inter Miami.