CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Major League Soccer announced Tuesday that Virginia freshman Stephen Annor has signed a Generation adidas contract and is now eligible for selection in the MLS SuperDraft which is set to take place this afternoon (Dec. 19) at 3 p.m.
Annor becomes the 10th Cavalier to sign a Generation adidas/Project-40 contract and the first since Bret Halsey who was selected seventh overall by Real Salt Lake in 2021.
Generation adidas is a joint program between MLS and adidas that sees a handful of top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players signed by MLS to Generation adidas contracts and made available in the SuperDraft. In order to provide Generation adidas players with the best professional environment, Generation adidas player salaries are not charged against an MLS team’s annual salary budget, providing an added incentive for that club to develop the player. Eventually, these GA players graduate to senior player contracts and their salaries are charged against a team’s budget.
Stephen Annor was named a 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-American becoming just the fourth UVA freshman to receive the honor joining the likes of Claudio Reyna (1991), Tony Meola (1988) and Jeff Agoos (1986). The first Cavalier to record double-digit goals since Daryl Dike in 2019, Annor was named the 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year while earning a spot on the All-ACC First Team.
For the first time in league history, the list of players eligible for selection in MLS SuperDraft 2024 presented by adidas may now include collegiate sophomores and juniors, in addition to previously draft-eligible groups including Generation adidas signings.
MLS clubs may draft players through the MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas from a list of eligible players which may include:
- Players who are collegiate sophomores and above;
- Generation adidas players;
- Any former college player who departed college with remaining eligibility since the conclusion of the college season approximately one (1) year prior to the SuperDraft (i.e., since the conclusion of the 2022 college season) in order to compete as a professional in a league domestically; and
- Any other players specifically made available by the league (such as pre-signed College seniors or pre-signed internationals).