Red Bulls sign academy duo to Homegrown Player contracts

The New York Red Bulls have announced the signings of two players out of the Red Bulls Academy, with midfielder Derrick Etienne and forward Brandon Allen penning Homegrown Player contracts with the senior team.

Etienne spent the last year with the University of Virginia, while Allen spent the last four years at Georgetown University. The two will join the Red Bulls' senior roster for the 2016 season.

"We are pleased to add two high-caliber players to our roster," Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis said in a statement. "After their accomplishments in the collegiate game, we are excited about the potential of both players to contribute at the professional level."

Etienne and Allen join Matt Miazga, Connor Lade, Sean Davis, Santiago Castano, and Tyler Adams as Homegrown Player signings on the senior team.

"I'm very excited," Allen said. "I've waited a long time for this, all my life, but I enjoyed my college career and a lot of my success came from my teammates and my senior class was a big part of my success so I want to thank them. I'm very excited to get started here at the Red Bulls."

"It's a great feeling," Etienne said. "Being in the academy for six years, being able to sign with the first team, it's a great feeling. Knowing some of the guys, I feel this is like finally getting the process going, it's great."