Orlando City signs academy product Da Silva to first team

Orlando City has signed midfielder Pierre da Silva to a homegrown contract, making the 18-year-old the first player to join the MLS side after representing the club's academy and USL reserve team.

The U.S. youth international joins Tony Rocha and Mikey Ambrose as players who have signed with Jason Kreis' first team after playing for Orlando City B, which took part in its first USL season last year.

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"I'm proud of everyone in the club who has helped Pierre get to where he is today," Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao said in a news release Friday. "Pierre's addition is a testament to the quality, competitiveness and benefits of playing with OCB and the clear path we have laid out for academy players to reach the MLS level."

A product of U.S. Soccer's Under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida, Da Silva represented the U.S. at the 2015 U-17 World Cup and earned a U-19 national team call-up in November.

The attacking midfielder was primarily used on the left flank for Orlando City B last season, leading the team with five assists in 23 appearances (18 starts).