Former Michigan soccer player Soony Saad signs MLS contract
Soony Saad, who left the Michigan soccer program after leading the nation in goals as a freshman, will join an MLS team on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old signed an MLS contract and will find out his new club via a weighted lottery, the MLS announced Sunday.
Saad scored 19 goals while leading the Wolverines to their most successful season in school history. They finished 17-5-3, won the Big Ten championship and reached the NCAA College Cup semifinals for the first time.
After one semester on Michigan’s campus, Saad left to pursue a professional soccer career in Europe.
Fox Soccer reported that Saad worked out with teams in Germany, but never landed a contract.
Fox Soccer’s Ives Galarcep spoke with Saad on Saturday night:
“I needed to get into a team right away. I'm still pretty young, as an 18-year-old, and I felt that MLS could bring my game up to the next level.“As long as I'm training hard everyday and in a pro environment and working for a starting position, I'm happy,” Saad said. “I'm very excited to get things rolling after leaving Michigan. This is the next step for me and I can't wait to work hard for any team I end up with.”
Saad and departed senior Justin Meram, who was drafted by the Columbus Crew, accounted for 36 of Michigan's 53 goals last season.
Comments
A2Dave
Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 12:08 p.m.
Hope the money is good; without an education and a degree, he's going to need it 5 years from now. Two or three more years at Michigan would have much improved his game and his marketability, not to mention his long term prospects.