D.C. United have signed D.C. United Academy product and Loudoun United FC midfielder Jackson Hopkins as the 18th Homegrown Signing in club history on a four-year contract through 2025 with options in 2026 and 2027. The 17-year-old joins Ted Ku-DiPietro, Jacob Greene, Jeremy Garay, Bill Hamid, Moses Nyeman, Donovan Pines, and Griffin Yow on the list of Homegrown Players on the current roster.
“Jackson has been training with the first team for the last six months and has shown maturity beyond his age both on and off the field,” Lucy Rushton, D.C. United General Manager, said. “He possesses a unique set of skills on the field with size and physicality combined with great feet and awareness on the ball. We are excited to sign Jackson to a Homegrown deal so we can continue to develop his game with eyes on him making an impact on the first team.”
Hopkins initially signed an Academy contract with Loudoun United FC in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship in the 2021 season and made his professional debut on July 28, 2021 as an 82nd-minute substitute against the Charleston Battery. Since making his debut, Hopkins has scored two goals and recorded one assist in 19 appearances over two seasons. His first goal came in the 20th minute of the Red-and-White’s 3-3 draw with New York Red Bull II on Oct. 1, 2021. His second goal was also against Red Bulls II on Oct. 30, 2021.
“We’ve been impressed with Jackson since he made his debut with Loudoun United last year. We could tell from the start that Jackson has a unique skill set for someone at 17-years-old,” Stewart Mairs, Loudoun United General Manager, said. “He has a strong physique but he also has intuition with the ball at his feet. We are proud of Jackson for making the deserved jump up to the D.C. United first team and he’s another success story from Loudoun United in our Pathway to Pro program.”
Born in Fredericksburg, Va., Hopkins joined the D.C. United Academy at 14-years-old in 2018. He had a brief stint with the New York Red Bulls Academy in 2021 before returning to the D.C. United Academy that same year. Hopkins previously played for Arlington Soccer Association and the Virginia Development Academy
The D.C. United Academy remains one of the most successful youth systems for developing soccer players in the United States. The Black-and-Red now have eight Homegrown Players on their roster in Jackson Hopkins, Ted Ku-DiPietro, Jeremy Garay, Jacob Greene, Moses Nyeman, Griffin Yow, Donovan Pines, and Bill Hamid. Hamid has recorded the most minutes played as a Homegrown Player in MLS history (24,386).
Player: Jackson Hopkins
Position: Midfield
Birthplace: Fredericksburg, Va.
Country: United States
Birthdate: 07/01/2004
Age: 17
Height: 6’2’’
Weight: 163 lbs
Status: Homegrown
Transaction: D.C. United signed Jackson Hopkins as the 18th Homegrown Player in club history on a four-year contract through 2025 with options in 2026 and 2027.
