The Houston Dynamo have signed 18-year-old goalkeeper Xavier Valdez to a multi-year homegrown contract after finalizing a trade to acquire his rights exclusivity from the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.

Houston traded $50,000 in conditional General Allocation Money to the Red Bulls and NYCFC as part of the trade, with both clubs retaining a percentage of a future transfer fee outside of MLS.

Valdez has been a part of the Dynamo Academy since July 2020, and previously featured as a guest player for the Dynamo in the Generation adidas event.

The goalkeeper has been a regular for the Dynamo Academy U-23 team. He has also spent time training with the first team under the direction of goalkeepers coach Zach Thornton.

Another @DynamoAcademy product joins the first team ranks ?

Welcome home, @Xavierhbtl.#HoldItDown

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) February 27, 2022

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to sign Xavier to his first professional contract,” Dynamo general manager Pat Onstad said in a release. 

“Since joining the academy in 2020, Xavier has proven to be a goalkeeper with great potential. Xavier has gotten the chance to train extensively with the Dynamo first team, and has shown that he has what it takes to be a great MLS goalkeeper.”

The Dynamo kicked off the 2022 Major League Soccer season with a 0-0 draw against Real Salt Lake at PNC Stadium on Sunday. 

The team returns to action on Saturday when visiting Sporting Kansas City.