University of Virginia midfielder Bret Halsey signs Generation adidas contract

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Major League Soccer announced the signing of University Virginia junior Bret Halsey (Sterling, Va.) to a Generation adidas contract.

The midfielder is now one of five Cavaliers who have entered their names into the upcoming MLS SuperDraft on Thursday (Jan. 21).

Generation adidas is a joint program between MLS and adidas which sees a handful of top collegiate underclassmen and youth national team players signed by MLS to Generation adidas contracts and made available in the SuperDraft. More information on Generation adidas is available here.

The 2021 MLS SuperDraft is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. EST. The first round of the SuperDraft will be streamed on MLSsoccer.com, the MLS App, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Rounds two and three will not be streamed but can be followed on the MLSsoccer.com’s SuperDraft tracker.

Halsey has become a staple in the Virginia lineup since the 2019 season in which the Cavaliers won their 16h ACC Championship and reached the NCAA College Cup Final. He has started all 31 matches in which has appeared over the course of three seasons including his final 27 matches. He played every minute of all eight matches this Fall. Halsey was a two-time ACC All-Tournament selection and tallied four points (1g, 2a) in 2019.

A total of four players have signed Generation adidas contracts since the 2017 season (Edward Opoku, Henry Kesslerand Daryl Dike).

Halsey will join teammates Nathaniel Crofts, Irakoze Donasiyano and Colin Shutler as eligible Cavaliers for the 2021 SuperDraft. Former Virginia midfielder, Daniel Steedman is also eligible after spending the 2020 season playing with Atlanta United 2.