SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes selected Stanford University forward Ousseni Bouda (ooh-SEN-ee BOO-duh) with the eighth overall selection and Clemson University defender Oskar Agren with the 13th overall selection in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft on Tuesday. The Quakes also drafted Clemson defender John Martin with the eighth selection in the third round (No. 64 overall).
San Jose secured the 13th overall selection from D.C. United in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 36 overall) and $100k in General Allocation Money (GAM).
“We’re very excited about the potential of our draft class this year,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “Ousseni and Oskar were two of the highest rated players on our board, so to select them both leaves us feeling good about our process. We’re looking forward to bringing these players into San Jose and helping them launch their careers with a positive support system.”**
Bouda**, 21, was a two-year starter for Stanford University between 2019-21, finishing his collegiate career with 10 goals and 14 assists in 39 starts. He signed a Generation adidas contract with Major League Soccer ahead of the SuperDraft and will be placed on San Jose’s roster immediately.
As a freshman in 2019, Bouda tallied five goals and five assists in 22 appearances to earn All-Pac-12 First Team, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, and College Soccer News All-Freshman First Team honors.
After missing the 2020 season to injury, Bouda finished tied for first in the Pac-12 Conference in assists (9) and tied for ninth in goals (5) across 17 appearances in 2021. He earned First Team All-Pac-12 accolades for the second time.
Bouda was born in Burkina Faso and played four years at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana before earning a scholarship to Millbrook School in New York. He helped Millbrook win three straight New York Class C state championships and was named the Gatorade High School Player of the Year as a junior in 2017-18 after scoring 49 goals. He was then named a High School All-American and the USA Today 2018-19 ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 61 goals as a senior.
Bouda has represented Burkina Faso at the U-20 level. He played with Quakes defender Tanner Beason (2019) and midfielder Will Richmond (2019-21) while at Stanford.
**
Agren**, 23, competed for Clemson University for three years, starting 60 of his 61 appearances and tallying six goals and seven assists. In 2021, the native of Malmo, Sweden helped No. 8 Clemson earn tournament victories over unranked Denver, No. 9 Kentucky, No. 1 Oregon State, and No. 4 Notre Dame, before shutting out No. 2 Washington 2-0 in the championship game to give the Tigers their first National Championship since 1987.
In addition to leading his team to the national title, Agren racked up several individual accolades, including being named a College Soccer News First Team All-American, United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-American, and First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. Agren was also one of three finalists for the coveted MAC Hermann Trophy, the top individual honor in college soccer. Agren was ranked by TopDrawerSoccer.com as the third-best player in men’s college soccer in 2021, as well as the top defender. He finished his remarkable junior season with five goals and three assists in 22 starts.
Agren was a Second-Team All-ACC selection in 2020 and ACC All-Freshman team honoree in 2019. Prior to attending Clemson, Agren competed for Swedish side IF Limhamn Bunkeflo 07.
Agren will need to sign a contract with the Quakes before being placed on the team’s roster.
* Martin*, 21, was a four-year contributor for the Clemson Tigers, where he tallied two assists in 38 appearances (13 starts). He played alongside San Jose’s first-round selection Oskar Agren for the past three seasons and helped the Tigers win the 2021 National Championship. Martin was also a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree.
Martin will need to sign a contract with the Quakes before being placed on the team’s roster.
Ousseni Bouda
(ooh-SEN-ee BOO-duh)
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175 lbs.
Born: April 28, 2000 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Hometown: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Preferred Foot: Right
College: Stanford University
Roster Designation: Generation adidas, International
Oskar Agren
(AH-grin)
Position: Defender
Height: 6-3
Weight: 180 lbs.
Born: Sept. 10, 1998 in Malmo, Sweden
Hometown: Malmo, Sweden
Preferred Foot: Right
College: Clemson University
Roster Designation: Unsigned, International
John Martin
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weight: 155
Born: April 20, 2000
Preferred Foot: Right
Hometown: Clemson, SC
College: Clemson University
Roster Designation: Unsigned, Domestic
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes select Stanford forward Ousseni Bouda (No. 8 overall) and Clemson defender Oskar Agren (No. 13 overall) in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. Earthquakes also select Clemson defender John Martin (No. 64) in the third round.
