The New York Red Bulls announced today that they signed Red Bulls Academy goalkeeper Santiago Castano and forward Amando Moreno. Castano and Moreno become the sixth and seventh academy products to sign with New York’s first team via the Major League Soccer Homegrown Player rule. The duo will be added to the roster pending passing a team physical.
“Both of these players have trained with the first team during the past year and they impressed our technical staff,” said Red Bulls Sporting Director Andy Roxburgh. “It is a priority for our club to bring young players from our academy to the first team and we want to congratulate Santiago and Amando for taking this step.”
Castano, 17, has been with the Red Bulls Academy since Sept. 2008. He has featured for the Red Bulls Under-14, 15, 16 and 18 teams and has trained with the New York first team throughout this time. On the youth international level, Castano spent time in Bradenton, FL as part of the Under-17 U.S. National Team Residency program in 2010 and has also been called into the Under-14, Under-15 and Under-18 U.S. youth squads.
Moreno, 17, joined Red Bulls Academy in Nov. 2009 and has played for the Red Bulls Under-15, 16 and 18 squads. With the Under-16 side from 2010-2012, Moreno recorded 33 goals and 22 assists and helped his side become the U.S. Soccer Development Academy champions in the 2011-2012 season. Recently, Moreno was called into the U.S. Under-18 National Team. He has trained with the Red Bulls First Team and played in several of the club’s reserve games in 2012.
The other former Red Bulls Academy players who graduated to the New York first team were: forward Giorgi Chirgadze (signed: Sept. 2009), forward Juan Agudelo (March 2010), midfielder Matt Kassel (Jan. 2011), defender Sacir Hot (Jan. 2011) and defender Connor Lade (Dec. 2011).
Santiago Castano
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-2
Weight: 184 pounds
Day of Birth: April 14, 1995 in Queens, NY
Hometown: Union City, NJ
Previous Club: Red Bulls Academy
How Acquired: Signed on Dec. 11, 2012 via MLS Homegrown Player rule.
Amando Moreno
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 145 pounds
Day of Birth: Sept. 10, 1995 in Perth Amboy, NJ
Hometown: Morganville, NJ
Previous Club: Red Bulls Academy
How Acquired: Signed on Dec. 11, 2012 via MLS Homegrown Player rule.
