Major League Soccer has signed four college sophomores, one college freshman and one high school senior as part of its Project-40.
Ubusuku Abukusumo (N.C. State), Joe DiGiamarino (Cal State Fullerton), Brian Dunseth (Cal State Fullerton), Eric Quill (Clemson) and Tim Sahaydak (North Carolina) all play for the U.S. under-20 team. Nino DaSilva, the 1996 NSCAA/Umbro High School Player of the Year from Hoffman Estates, Ill., is a member of the U.S. U-18 team.
All players will earn the minimum MLS salary and receive a five-year college tuition grant. Carlos Parra (MetroStars) and Juan Sastoque (Dallas Burn) signed with MLS as the first Project-40 players.
The six signees will be allocated to MLS clubs shortly. Project-40 players don’t count against an MLS club’s roster size. They are expected, though, to see most of their playing time this season with A-League or USISL clubs affiliated to their MLS team.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation recently approved grants that will fund the Project-40 scholarship program.