FC Edmonton have signed teenage ace Marko Aleksic to a professional deal.
The 17-year old defender has spent the past three years coming through the youth academy of the Alberta club who compete in the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Described as a 'teenager soccer sensation' by the Toronto Sun, Aleksic was over the moon after putting pen to his first pro contract.
"It's a dream come true," Aleksic said after officially joining Edmonton's first team.
"Signing a professional contract has been a dream since I was a little kid, watching professional teams on TV, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, all the professional teams."
Edmonton boss Colin Miller, who acted as the Canada national team caretaker last year, added: "There's almost an apprenticeship that has to be served, and Marko started serving that apprenticeship through the Academy now he's at a different stage where he's in the first-team environment and for some it can be quite intimidating.
"They'll all talk to him advance with ideas of what it's all about, so he'll be fine. I have no worries at all about him."
