FC Cincinnati signs 17-year-old Beckham Sunderland as Homegrown Player

CINCINNATI – FC Cincinnati have signed goalkeeper Beckham Sunderland as a Homegrown Player. Sunderland, 17, has been added to FC Cincinnati’s roster and is available for selection for the remainder of the 2020 MLS regular season.

Sunderland has trained with FC Cincinnati’s first team since it returned to market following the MLS is Back Tournament.

“We are happy to be able to sign our first FC Cincinnati Academy product to a first-team contract as a Homegrown Player,” General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said. “We decided to keep Beckham with our first-team group this year in training as opposed to with our academy to be able to make a better assessment of him. Based on his performance and his ability to adapt to the professional environment, we feel he has earned an opportunity within our roster.”

Sunderland joined the FC Cincinnati Academy in the program’s inaugural 2019-20 season. He made a combined nine starts in net for the U-16/17s in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season. Prior to joining FC Cincinnati, Sunderland spent time in the Portland Timbers and Chicago Fire FC academies.

FC Cincinnati will return to the pitch tonight when they will play Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium.

TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati signed goalkeeper Beckham Sunderland as a Homegrown Player on Oct. 14, 2020.

#30 BECKHAM SUNDERLAND
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Birthdate: June 30, 2003
Birthplace: Aurora, Illinois
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Nationality: United States
MLS Roster Status: Homegrown Player
How Acquired: Via signing on Oct. 14, 2020.