SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed United States Youth National Team midfielder Eric Calvillo (cal-VEE-oh) to a multi-year contract. Calvillo, who turned 20 earlier this month, represented the U.S. at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
“Eric is a player that we have identified as a highly talented prospect,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “With a significant amount of professional and youth national team experience at just 20 years old, we believe our club can support his development as he takes on MLS. After three signings from our USL affiliate and now Eric from the NASL, we remain fully committed to scouting, signing and developing high-potential players from all corners of American soccer.”
Calvillo comes to San Jose after two seasons with the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos, where he played under current Portland Timbers head coach Giovanni Savarese. After scoring one goal in three appearances during his Championship-winning rookie season in 2016, Calvillo tallied three goals and one assist in 16 league appearances (13 starts) in 2017. In his 13 regular season starts, the Cosmos had a 5-2-6 record.
Calvillo was twice named to the NASL’s Team of the Week, selected as Player of the Week for Week 18 after scoring a brace against Miami FC, and earned Player of the Month honors in July. He also started and converted a penalty kick in the team’s upset victory over top-seeded Miami in the playoff semifinals before starting in the championship game against the SF Deltas.
During the 2017 season, he completed 88% of his passes and conceded just 12 fouls in nearly 1,200 minutes played. He also scored the game-winning goal in a summer friendly against La Liga’s six-time champion Valencia CF.
Internationally, Calvillo has represented the U.S. at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels. He was named to the United States’ 21-man roster at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he competed alongside players such as the New York Red Bulls’ Tyler Adams and Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic. He also wore the captain’s armband for the U.S. at the 2016 U-19 Copa del Atlantico against the likes of France and host-nation Spain.
Calvillo, a native of Palmdale, Calif., spent his youth career at Real So Cal before signing his first professional contract with the Cosmos in 2016 at 18 years old. He is right-footed and has played primarily as a box-to-box central midfielder or on the right wing.
He was featured by midfieldpress.com last year, where he was tabbed as ‘America’s Next Great Midfielder’.
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign M Eric Calvillo to a multi-year contract.
Eric Calvillo
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 lbs.
Born: Jan. 2, 1998
Hometown: Palmdale, Calif.
Last Club: New York Cosmos (NASL)
College: NA
Roster Designation: Domestic
