CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Thursday the club had signed United States youth international Ezekiel “Zeke” Soto to a multi-year professional contract. Soto has been a rising star within the USYNT setup since debuting for the U-17s at just 15 years old.

The 17-year-old arrives in Charleston after spending the past four years within the Houston Dynamo Academy. The San Diego, Calif., native now makes the jump to the USL Championship with the defending Eastern Conference champions.

“Meeting with the staff was an amazing experience and I felt very comfortable making my decision to come here,” said Soto. “This is because of the family-like atmosphere and excitement of the opportunity that was presented in front of me. I’m excited for all the new bonds to shape me and also to be playing at a very high level.”

“Signing a player with the profile and potential of Zeke’s is another signal of the destination Charleston has become for top domestic talent,” said Battery Chairman Rob Salvatore. “He seems like a mature young man, ready to challenge himself in an environment like ours. We’re excited to watch his development and see him contribute to the team’s success.”

Soto could follow a similar pathway as Battery product and former USYNT teammate Fidel Barajas, who developed his game in Charleston before transferring to MLS side Real Salt Lake and later Liga MX giants Chivas de Guadalajara.

“Being able to watch my former teammate, Fidel, grow and enhance his game from playing at the Battery definitely gave me bright looks at being at the club,” said Soto.

On the international stage, Soto has been a regular with the U.S. U-17 national team. Soto has earned 14 caps and scored five goals. He helped the U.S. qualify for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup when they ended as finalists in the 2023 Concacaf U-17 Championship.

Soto initially joined Houston’s academy when he was 14 years old before progressing through the ranks. He made 20 appearances for Dynamo 2 in MLS NEXT Pro from 2023-24.

Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann is looking forward to bringing aboard Soto at the midway point of the 2024 season.

“Zeke is a talented attacking-minded player, he can play a variety of roles as he continues his development as a player and a person,” said Pirmann. “Zeke has a very good attacking and physical skill set and always has his momentum forward.

“We are excited to see Zeke develop over the next few years. He has a natural ability to create and finish attacks, as he’s shown with the U.S. youth national team and Houston. As he transitions to first-team senior football, we look forward to helping him acclimate to the speed of play so he can both help the Battery win matches and reach his highest potential.”

“Having high-end talent at Zeke’s age is essential for USL clubs,” said Salvatore. “We have seen what is possible with the likes of Fidel, Diego Luna, Kobi Henry and Josh Wynder. It’s a very compelling part of the USL.”