AMSTERDAM – Young FC Groningen right back Desevio Payne inked his first professional contract with the club on Friday, signing a two-year deal with club option for a third.
The 19-year-old US U-20 standout made his Eredivisie debut in a February loss at Heerenveen. The new deal put Payne, a South Carolina native who has spent three years in Groningen's academy, in prime position to breach the Gang Green senior rotation. He recently returned from New Zealand, where he made three appearances for the US during their run to the quarterfinals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
- U-20 World Cup:US knocked out in quarterfinals by Serbia in PKs
"He will start the preseason with the first team on July 6," a club spokesman told MLSsoccer.com shortly after Payne was officially presented as a pro. "He has an extra week off because he played at the Under-20 World Cup."
However, the hot prospect is still offically listed with the Groningen reserve team and likely will begin the season with them in August. Though the senior squad could still see reinforcements from the summer transfer market, the man now at the top of their right back depth chart is 21-year-old Hans Hateboer.
