San Jose Earthquakes sign Cruz Medina as homegrown player

The San Jose Earthquakes have signed midfielder Cruz Medina as a homegrown player through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027.

Medina joins after having completed a training stint with Germany’s Bayern Munich in February and recording two appearances for Earthquakes II in MLS NEXT Pro. He stands as the third-youngest player in club history, signing at 15 years and 252 days old.

“Cruz is an incredibly talented young individual that we think very highly of, and we have a plan in place to maximize his potential here in San Jose,” Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch said in a release.

“I’d like to thank all of the coaches within the Quakes Academy as well as Cruz’s parents, Antonio and Laura, for developing him into the person and player he is today.”

Medina first started with San Jose’s youth program at the age of 12, working through the ranks before becoming the 11th Earthquakes Academy product to sign with the senior team. He also earned the Golden Ball at the 2021 MLS NEXT Cup as the competition’s top Under-15 player, and stood as one of the top performers at the 2022 Generation adidas Cup.

Medina has also become a standout internationally, excelling with the United States U17 national team. He recently featured at the UEFA development tournament in May, and friendlies in March, managing goals against Argentina and Portugal.