New England Revolution sign 17-year-old Esmir Bajraktarević as Homegrown Player

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have signed midfielder Esmir Bajraktarević (EZ-meer BY-rack-TARE-a-VITCH) to a Homegrown Player contract through the 2025 MLS season with an additional one-year club option.

A graduate of the Revolution Academy and Revolution II, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro team, Bajraktarević becomes the ninth Homegrown Player signing in Revolution history and the sixth player to ascend from Revolution II to the first team roster. Per the league’s roster regulations, Bajraktarević will be eligible to play in MLS competition one year after he joined the Revolution Academy beginning in August 2022.

Bajraktarević, 17, joined the Revolution Academy’s residency program in August 2021. The midfielder immediately began training with Revolution II and made his professional debut on Aug. 21. He has since made 17 appearances with 11 starts for New England’s developmental team, logging over 800 minutes. He netted his first professional goal on Sept. 11 at North Carolina FC, becoming the third Revolution Academy player to score a goal in a professional match for Revs II in 2021.

“Esmir is an exceptional young talent who still has a great deal of development ahead of him. I am happy to see his hard work thus far pay off as he takes this next step in our Pro Player Pathway,” Technical Director Curt Onalfo said. “From his first day in our residency program, Esmir has set a tremendous example with his attitude and work ethic. We look forward to seeing more players follow in his path from our Academy to the first team.”

The midfielder has made two appearances in 2022 with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team. In the team’s January camp, the 17-year-old was the youngest player featured on the roster. Bajraktarević was called back up in April for a domestic training camp ahead of this summer’s Concacaf U-20 Championship.

“I am excited to take this next step in my career and to continue learning from all of the great coaches and my teammates here in New England,” Bajraktarević said. “I feel that I have made huge strides as a player since coming to New England and I look forward to proving myself at this next level and earning my place on the field.”

TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign midfielder Esmir Bajraktarević to a Homegrown Player contract through the 2025 MLS season with an additional one-year club option on May 23, 2022. Bajraktarević will be eligible to play in MLS competition one year after he joined the Revolution Academy beginning in August 2022.

ESMIR BAJRAKTAREVIĆ AT A GLANCE:

• Signed as the ninth Homegrown Player in Revolution history on May 23, 2022 after joining the Revolution Academy in August 2021.
• First graduate of the Revolution Academy’s residency program to ascend to the first team roster.
• Has logged 17 professional appearances with Revolution II since last August, including 11 starts, with one goal scored.
• Rose from the club’s youth ranks to the first team roster, by way of Revolution II, in less than one year.
• Tallied seven goals in eight MLS NEXT matches at the U-17 and U-19 levels.

#47 ESMIR BAJRAKTAREVIĆ

Pronunciation: EZ-meer BY-rack-TARE-a-VITCH
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 142
Hometown: Appleton, Wisc.
Date of Birth: 03/10/2005 (Appleton, Wisc.)
Nationality: United States and Bosnia & Herzegovina
How Acquired: Signed from Revolution II as the ninth Homegrown Player in Revolution club history on May 23, 2022.