Jackson Yueill signs contract extension with San Jose Earthquakes

The San Jose Earthquakes announced Wednesday they have signed midfielder Jackson Yueill to a new multi-year contract that extends “well beyond the 2022 World Cup.”

The 23-year-old is in his fourth season with the Earthquakes, playing 80 regular season games in that span while scoring four goals and 10 assists from a deep-lying role. The Minnesota native is considered one of the club’s top players already and the contract appears to be a reward for his fine play.

The move appears to be for positioning as well, should they get an offer for a transfer from a European club down the line.

“He’s a player that was born and raised in this club and is one of its future leaders,” said Earthquakes head coach Matias Almeyda in a team statement. “I speak with him a lot and the most important trait he has is that he listens. It’s up to us to keep empowering him so that he continues on his upward trajectory. He’s a national team player and he’s a youngster that has the potential to take an important step to Europe after further developing here in San Jose. He has the qualities to do so and he will be carried by his great humbleness and professionalism.”

If Yueill can keep his place in the U.S. Men’s National Team moving forward, that should help his stock rise as well, and I think from San Jose’s perspective, they are in a potential win-win situation. If he turns out to be the next Chris Wondolowski, a rock of the club, then that’s a good sign, and if he gets sold on in the future that’s also good for the club’s reputation. And with a bevy of young homegrown players and young pros like Marcos Lopez on the roster, I would imagine San Jose would like to enter the world market in a new way moving forward and become a selling club, too. But we’ll see.

Congrats to Jackson and keep up the good work.

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