SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes have signed midfielder Edwyn Mendoza, defender Oscar Verhoeven, and forward Chance Cowell to Homegrown Player contracts. Mendoza and Verhoeven represent the U.S. U17 National Team alongside fellow Homegrown midfielder Cruz Medina, while Cowell has competed for the United States and Mexico at the youth levels.
“Oscar and Edwyn have already emerged as leaders for both club and country at a young age, and Chance is a player who is close to our Quakes family and we have been keeping our eye on,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “We’re grateful to come to an agreement on professional contacts for all three players and are excited to watch their respective promising careers develop.”
Mendoza, 17, will join Earthquakes II on an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2023 season before becoming an Earthquakes Homegrown player effective Jan. 1, 2024. His MLS contract runs through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. Mendoza is a left-footed central midfielder from San Jose. He has made 10 appearances for the U.S. U17 National Team, including four as part of the team’s run to the final of the 2023 Concacaf U17 Championship. He is rated by TopDrawerSoccer as the 21st best player in the country and 11th best midfielder for the Class of 2024.
Verhoeven, 16, joins the Earthquakes on a Homegrown Player contract through the 2025 season with club options through 2027. Verhoeven is a right-footed fullback from Pleasant Hill. He has made 13 appearances for the U.S. U17 National Team and started five matches during the 2023 Concacaf U17 Championship, including the final vs. Mexico. TopDrawerSoccer has Verhoeven as the nation’s second highest rated defender in the country for the Class of 2024 and ninth highest rated player overall.
Cowell, 14, will join Earthquakes II on an MLS NEXT Pro contract for the 2023 season before becoming an Earthquakes Homegrown player effective Jan. 1, 2024. His MLS contract runs through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. Brother of Cade Cowell, the Ceres, Calif. native joined Republic FC’s academy in 2021 and appeared for Sacramento’s U14, U15, and U17 teams. He joined the Earthquakes U15 squad for the Generation adidas Cup, helping San Jose reach the Round of 16. He has been called up three times to Mexico’s U15 squad. This past February, he was called up to the United States U15 National Team for training camp and friendly matches in Carson, California. In March, he participated in the U.S. Youth National Team Regional ID Center in Pleasanton, Calif.
Edwyn Mendoza
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10
Weight: 140 lbs.
Born: March 5, 2006 in San Jose, Calif.
Preferred Foot: Left
Hometown: San Jose, Calif.
Previous Club: Quakes Academy
College: N/A
Roster Designation: Domestic, Homegrown
Citizenship: USA
Oscar Verhoeven
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 150 lbs.
Born: May 31, 2006 in Pleasant Hill, Calif.
Preferred Foot: Right
Hometown: Pleasant Hill, Calif.
Previous Club: Quakes Academy
College: N/A
Roster Designation: Domestic, Homegrown
Citizenship: USA
Chance Cowell
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 lbs.
Born: July 5, 2008 in Ceres, Calif.
Preferred Foot: Right
Hometown: Ceres, Calif.
Previous Club: Sacramento Republic FC Academy
College: N/A
Roster Designation: Domestic, Homegrown
Citizenship: USA
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign M Edwyn Mendoza, D Oscar Verhoeven and F Chance Cowell to Homegrown Player contracts.
