World News – CA – San Jose Earthquakes rewards Jackson Yueill with contract extension

In a move that solidified the team’s future in one of its most important positions, the Quakes signed 23-year-old Yueill for a multi-year extension contract, the club announced Wednesday The deal will keep the new team captain with the club « well beyond the 2022 FIFA World Cup » Terms were not disclosed according to team and league policy

Yueill has one goal and one assist in 14 games this season for the Earthquakes (4-6-5, 17 points), who sit ninth in the Western Conference in Wednesday night’s game against the Whitecaps in Vancouver visiting Earthquakes moved a spot below the playoff line after back-to-back wins over Los Angeles teams

« I am delighted to continue with this club, this dressing room and this coaching staff, » said Yueill in a statement

Yueill has scored four goals and 10 assists in 80 games (68 starts) since San Jose selected him sixth in the 2017 Major League Soccer Draft outside UCLA His worth goes far beyond offensive stats Yueil has proven to be a stronger defender and one of the team’s main distributors to launch an attack.

« When we first selected Jackson we thought he had a lot of potential because of his ability to read the game and his unique technical skills, ”Quakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli said in a statement.

Fioranelli said Yueill had gained the confidence of the locker room 3.5 years after the start of his professional career He has been the Quakes captain since midfielder Magnus Eriksson returned to Sweden on a summer transfer

« He also gained the confidence to be a key player, even in pressured situations, both for San Jose and for the US national team, » added Fioranelli

After making 34 appearances in his first two seasons in Major League Soccer, Yueill enjoyed a breakout year in 2019 under coach Matias Almeyda He made 29 starts in 32 MLS appearances, scoring three goals and five assists, all career highs

« He is a player who was born and raised at this club and who is one of its future leaders, » said Almeyda « He is a player for the national team, and he is a young person who has the potential to take an important step towards Europe after continuing to develop here in San Jose »

Yueill, a native of Minnesota, made seven appearances for the US national team, including a 4-1-1 record in his six starts He was considered a strong candidate to make the US Olympic team before the Tokyo Games has been postponed until next summer due to the novel coronavirus pandemic

In other Quakes news, Dutch forward Danny Hoesen is set to miss the rest of the regular season after undergoing surgery to repair tears in the oblique and adductor muscles, the club announced last week

San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Jackson Yueill, MLS, Matías Almeyda