FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (March 13, 2024) – New England Revolution II have signed six Revolution Academy players to amateur agreements ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. After training with the team throughout preseason, midfielder Cristiano Oliveira (2008 – Somerville, Mass.) and defenders Alex Parvu (2005 – Cumberland, R.I.), Steban Lopera (2005 – Revere, Mass.), Jamie Kabuusu (2006 – Chestnut Hill, Mass.), Damario McIntosh (2007 – Newark, Calif.), and Eric Klein (2006 – Manheim, Penn.) are set to feature on matchday rosters with Revolution II as youth academy players this year while maintaining their NCAA eligibility.
“We’re thrilled to see this talented group of young players take this next step in our pro pathway,” Revolution Technical Director Remi Roy stated. “Our second team continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for our Academy players to earn professional experience in the early stages of their careers and we’re excited to see the continued growth of this group throughout the year.”
Oliveira, 15, led the U-17s with 12 goals and two assists in the fall. The Somerville native joined Revolution Academy in 2021 and has earned two call-ups to the United States Men’s Youth National Team. McIntosh, 16, joined New England in 2023 and owns two goals and one assist in the fall with the U-17s. Lopera and Parvu, both 18, and 17-year-olds Klein and Kabuusu all feature with the Revolution’s two-time MLS NEXT Cup Champion U-19s and have each been regulars at Revolution II training sessions over the last two seasons.
Lopera made his MLS NEXT Pro debut with Revolution II on August 21, 2022 while Klein recorded his on July 12, 2023. New England’s second team has seen the professional debuts of 29 current or former Revolution Academy players since the team’s inaugural season in 2020. Per MLS NEXT Pro roster guidelines, 11 of every team’s 35 roster slots may be filled with amateur players with a maximum of five youth academy players per team on the field at a time during an official match.
New England continues preseason training in Foxborough as the squad prepares for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. Revolution II kicks off the year on the road at Subaru Park taking on Philadelphia Union II on March 24 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
