Earthquakes Sign Edwyn Mendoza, Oscar Verhoeven, and Chance Cowell to Homegrown Contracts

May 16, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – San Jose Earthquakes News Release

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes have signed midfielder Edwyn Mendoza, defender Oscar Verhoeven, and forward Chance Cowell to Homegrown Player contracts. Mendoza and Verhoeven represent the U.S. U17 National Team alongside fellow Homegrown midfielder Cruz Medina, while Cowell has competed for the United States and Mexico at the youth levels.

“Oscar and Edwyn have already emerged as leaders for both club and country at a young age, and Chance is a player who is close to our Quakes family and we have been keeping our eye on,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “We’re grateful to come to an agreement on professional contacts for all three players and are excited to watch their respective promising careers develop.”

Mendoza, 17, will join Earthquakes II on an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2023 season before becoming an Earthquakes Homegrown player effective Jan. 1, 2024. His MLS contract runs through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. Mendoza is a left-footed central midfielder from San Jose. He has made 10 appearances for the U.S. U17 National Team, including four as part of the team’s run to the final of the 2023 Concacaf U17 Championship. He is rated by TopDrawerSoccer as the 21st best player in the country and 11th best midfielder for the Class of 2024.

Verhoeven, 16, joins the Earthquakes on a Homegrown Player contract through the 2025 season with club options through 2027. Verhoeven is a right-footed fullback from Pleasant Hill. He has made 13 appearances for the U.S. U17 National Team and started five matches during the 2023 Concacaf U17 Championship, including the final vs. Mexico. TopDrawerSoccer has Verhoeven as the nation’s second highest rated defender in the country for the Class of 2024 and ninth highest rated player overall.

Cowell, 14, will join Earthquakes II on an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2023 season before becoming an Earthquakes Homegrown player effective Jan. 1, 2024.His MLS contract runs through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. Brother of Cade Cowell, the Ceres, Calif. native joined Republic FC’s academy in 2021 and appeared for Sacramento’s U14, U15, and U17 teams. He joined the Earthquakes U15 squad for the Generation adidas Cup, helping San Jose reach the Round of 16. He has been called up three times to Mexico’s U15 squad. This past February, he was called up to the United States U15 National Team for…