Now that he's signed his first professional soccer contract, there's something else Louisville City FC's Elijah Wynder needs to take care of — getting his driver's license.

The 16-year-old midfielder got his permit last month and relies on his parents for rides to and from practice. It's a small price to pay to live out his goal of becoming a professional soccer player.

"I've been looking forward for this moment a long time in my life," he said. "I'm just like, finally, to get to do it, it's a very great moment and good feeling."

That dream became a reality last week when Wynder signed with Louisville City as its first academy player, capping what's been a whirlwind six-month stretch for the Louisville Collegiate School sophomore.

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His signing also filled a number of short-term holes and long-term goals for Louisville City, the United Soccer League club, which is hoping to establish its academy as a place to develop local youth players toward a career in professional soccer.

"I think it really means more to the community, actually, than it does for our club," Louisville City coach John Hackworth said. "The idea is that there is a pathway to be in professional soccer and that local kids no longer have to leave Louisville to go outside and get the experiences."

That's included invitations to a number of youth players to train with the club. They opted to sign Wynder, whom Hackworth called a "good attacking player."

"He is comfortable on the ball and he makes good decisions and he problem-solves his way out of situations a little more than you would think a 16-year-old would be capable of," he said. "At the same time he’s extremely quiet, so we tease him about that quite often and we’re trying to get him more outspoken in his personality on and off the field."

That personality trait is understandable when you consider where he was in October. He had just capped off his sophomore season at Louisville Collegiate where he scored 13 goals and added seven assists. Along with his brother, Isaiah, he led the team as far as the Seventh Region championship, where they lost 3-2 to St. Xavier.

Elijah's performance there and with his club team, Ohio Elite-KY, was enough to catch the eye of Mario Sanchez, Louisville City's director of youth development and community, who invited him to train with the club.

Wynder admitted he was nervous heading into that first practice as the intensity was "10 times higher" than what he was used to, but the players have welcomed him and pushed him.

"They're teaching me more mentally than technically. Go into everything harder than normal. Don't just go through the motions," he said.

Wynder estimated it took seven more practices before Sanchez called his mom and offered a contract. By last weekend, he was on a plane to Florida, and was active but did not play as LouCity used a late-game goal to tie the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 1-1.

He called the moment fun but said it was more exciting for his family, including Isaiah, who is headed to the University of Louisville next season, and his classmates.

Wynder's addition to the roster came while Louisville City is down several players to injury. Hackworth said none of them are expected to return this weekend against Ottawa Fury FC.

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That's contributed to struggles out of the gate, but Hackworth said he really felt a tie on the road against an undefeated Tampa Bay team was the turning point for the season.

"As an athlete, now as a coach, as a former player, there’s always this moment in a season, in a game, where you kind of gain this confidence that just comes from having faced a lot of adversity, and realizing, ‘You’re good. You’re doing all right,’" Hackworth said. "I think we’re at that point."

That turning point could also include Wynder as Hackworth said he does envision a scenario where he'd see the field. He'll likely be on the active roster again on Saturday.

"Let’s be realistic: This opportunity came fast," Hackworth said. "Every week that we go farther and every time that he steps on the field for us, I think it puts him that much closer to being somebody that as a coaching staff, and as the players on the field, we would trust to do the job."

Justin Sayers: 502-582-4252; jsayers@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/justins.