Somali refugee Siad Haji’s long soccer journey will continue in San Jose after the teenager became the No. 2 overall pick today in the Major League Soccer draft.
The Earthquakes grabbed the 5-foot-8 midfielder from Virginia Commonwealth after expansion FC Cincinnati took UCLA forward Frankie Amaya with the No. 1 overall pick in Chicago.
Haji, who turned 19 in December, is part of the Quakes’ continuing effort to rebrand themselves with young players who will be groomed by new coach Matias Almeyda, the former manager of Mexico’s famed Guadalajara.
In two seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, Haji had seven goals and 18 assists in 37 games.