IRVINE, Calif. (OCTOBER 7, 2020) – Orange County SC announced today that it has completed the transfer of U.S. Youth International Aaron Cervantes to European powerhouse Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League. Cervantes, a Southern California native who signed his first professional contract with OCSC in 2018 at the age of 15, becomes the first player to be permanently transferred between the two clubs.
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IRVINE, Calif. (OCTOBER 7, 2020) – Orange County SC announced today that it has completed the transfer of U.S. Youth International Aaron Cervantes to European powerhouse Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League. Cervantes, a Southern California native who signed his first professional contract with OCSC in 2018 at the age of 15, becomes the first player to be permanently transferred between the two clubs.
To stay up-to-date on all club transfers, news, exclusive interviews, and more, join the Orange County SC x Rangers FC Newsletter! https://bit.ly/OCSCxRangersFC
“Today is a landmark moment for everyone at Orange County SC with the official transfer of Aaron to Rangers F.C.,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Oliver Wyss. “Aaron was the first local, young Orange County player that we signed to a professional contract, and he laid the foundation for our pathway and future young talents at OCSC with his professionalism and work ethic. Aaron is a special young man and seeing him transfer to Rangers F.C., our world-class partner club is gratifying beyond words!”
Cervantes, 18, made his professional debut for OCSC on March 23, 2019, vs. New Mexico United. Since then, he has made 18 appearances for the club and recorded 4 clean sheets. In 2020, Cervantes had 5 starts in 6 appearances with 15 saves and 1 clean sheet.
Rangers FC’s Academy Director Craig Mulholland added, “We are delighted to welcome Aaron to Rangers and have enjoyed watching his excellent progress with our partners at Orange County. He has been exposed at an early age to first-team football and will now continue this with a loan in Europe as part of this creative agreement. (Sporting Director) Ross Wilson and I are in constant dialogue with the team at Orange County, and this is another major step in the exciting partnership which has helped make Orange County one of the most attractive options for the best young players in the US, with a jointly developed plan to reach one of Europe’s biggest clubs.”
“I want to thank Orange County SC for taking care of me since day one, without their top professional environment, none of this would have happened,” said Cervantes. “I am just humbled to have this opportunity at Rangers F.C., which is a massive club, and I am ready to go to work and show what I can do.”
“Today is a landmark moment for everyone at Orange County SC with the official transfer of Aaron to Rangers F.C.,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Oliver Wyss. “Aaron was the first local, young Orange County player that we signed to a professional contract, and he laid the foundation for our pathway and future young talents at OCSC with his professionalism and work ethic. Aaron is a special young man and seeing him transfer to Rangers F.C., our world-class partner club is gratifying beyond words!”
Cervantes, 18, made his professional debut for OCSC on March 23, 2019, vs. New Mexico United. Since then, he has made 18 appearances for the club and recorded 4 clean sheets. In 2020, Cervantes had 5 starts in 6 appearances with 15 saves and 1 clean sheet.
Rangers FC’s Academy Director Craig Mulholland added, “We are delighted to welcome Aaron to Rangers and have enjoyed watching his excellent progress with our partners at Orange County. He has been exposed at an early age to first-team football and will now continue this with a loan in Europe as part of this creative agreement. (Sporting Director) Ross Wilson and I are in constant dialogue with the team at Orange County, and this is another major step in the exciting partnership which has helped make Orange County one of the most attractive options for the best young players in the US, with a jointly developed plan to reach one of Europe’s biggest clubs.”
“I want to thank Orange County SC for taking care of me since day one, without their top professional environment, none of this would have happened,” said Cervantes. “I am just humbled to have this opportunity at Rangers F.C., which is a massive club, and I am ready to go to work and show what I can do.”
Cervantes, a goalkeeper for the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team, represented the U.S. in the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil and has also played with the USMNT during the 2018 4 Nations Tournament and the 2018 Sportchain Cup in Benicassim, Spain. In December 2019, Cervantes joined fellow OCSC youth players Diego Lopez and Francis Jacobs in Ibrox for trials with Rangers F.C.
“I personally couldn't be happier for Aaron. He has developed from a young ambitious goalkeeper into a mentally strong young man over my years of working with him,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “I wish Aaron the very best in this new chapter of his career and development.”
When he signed in 2018, Aaron was the youngest player ever to sign with the club. Cervantes was featured in the OCSC documentary “Path to Glory” (the full series debuts later this year in the UK and on a major American network), and his transfer becomes the blueprint for OCSC’s pathway to the pro’s elite development program. Cervantes is the first homegrown player from Orange County to transfer to a European club.
Per club policy, terms of transfer and player contracts will not be released to the public.
Cervantes, a goalkeeper for the U.S. U17 Men’s National Team, represented the U.S. in the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil and has also played with the USMNT during the 2018 4 Nations Tournament and the 2018 Sportchain Cup in Benicassim, Spain. In December 2019, Cervantes joined fellow OCSC youth players Diego Lopez and Francis Jacobs in Ibrox for trials with Rangers F.C.
“I personally couldn’t be happier for Aaron. He has developed from a young ambitious goalkeeper into a mentally strong young man over my years of working with him,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “I wish Aaron the very best in this new chapter of his career and development.”
When he signed in 2018, Aaron was the youngest player ever to sign with the club. Cervantes was featured in the OCSC documentary “Path to Glory” (the full series debuts later this year in the UK and on a major American network), and his transfer becomes the blueprint for OCSC’s pathway to the pro’s elite development program. Cervantes is the first homegrown player from Orange County to transfer to a European club.
Per club policy, terms of transfer and player contracts will not be released to the public.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB:
Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) is Orange County’s only professional soccer team and is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest-growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 35 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the 5,500-seat Orange County Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. OCSC’s strategic partner is Rangers Football Club of Glasgow in the Scottish Premier League. OCSC signed the youngest male in United States soccer history to a professional contract, Francis Jacobs, in 2019 at the age of 14. The team also executed the first-ever player move from the USL to Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga with Bryang Kayo in 2020. OCSC’s preceding club, Orange County Blues, was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players, and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB:
Orange County Soccer Club (OCSC) is Orange County’s only professional soccer team and is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest-growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 35 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the 5,500-seat Orange County Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. OCSC’s strategic partner is Rangers Football Club of Glasgow in the Scottish Premier League. OCSC signed the youngest male in United States soccer history to a professional contract, Francis Jacobs, in 2019 at the age of 14. The team also executed the first-ever player move from the USL to Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga with Bryang Kayo in 2020. OCSC’s preceding club, Orange County Blues, was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players, and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: https://www.orangecountysoccer.com
For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chad Romiti
PR Manager
Orange County Soccer Club
Phone: 949-647-GOAL
Email: chad@https://www.orangecountysoccer.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Chad Romiti
PR Manager
Orange County Soccer Club
Phone: 949-647-GOAL
Email: chad@https://www.orangecountysoccer.com