SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed 16-year-old center back Casey Walls to a Homegrown Player contract. Walls becomes the seventh product of the Quakes Academy to sign with the first team, and sixth since December of 2016.

“Casey is a talented central defender that stood out at a young age in our academy for his technical skills and maturity,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “As he has progressed in the U.S. Youth National Team system, we also wanted to provide a support system to allow him to develop in our first team environment. Matias [Almeyda] has made an effort to include academy players in training sessions on a weekly basis throughout the year and Casey has proven that he is capable of taking on the challenge.”

Walls has been a standout for the Quakes Academy since joining from Marin FC in 2017, competing at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels. While still age-eligible for the U-17s, Walls has been playing primarily for the Quakes’ U-19 squad this year.

Walls is a regular with the U.S. Youth National Team system, having been called to the U-14s, U-15s and U-16s in the past. His most recent international call-up was in September for a U-16 Talent Identification Camp.

The native of London, England is currently rated by Top Drawer Soccer as the nation’s fourth-best defender for the Class of 2021 and the No. 1 overall player in the Northern California and Hawaii region.

Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign 16-year-old D Casey Walls to a Homegrown Player contract.

Casey Walls

Position: Defender

Height: 6-2

Weight: 173 lbs.

Born: Jan. 10, 2003 in London, England

Preferred Foot: Left

Hometown: Mill Valley, Calif.

Last Club: Quakes Academy U-19

College: N/A

Roster Designation: Homegrown, Domestic