FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Three New England Revolution players, forward Juan Agudelo, midfielder Diego Fagundez, and rookie forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen, have been named to the 50-player short list for the MLSsoccer.com 24 Under 24 presented by EA Sports, which recognizes the most talented and promising stars in MLS under the age of 24. The annual ranking of the league’s best young players will be announced beginning on Monday, Sept. 19, with the top five being revealed on Thursday, Sept. 22. Both Agudelo and Fagundez are seeking their fifth selection to the list.
All MLS players aged 23 or younger before Oct. 23, 2016 are eligible for consideration. The final list of 24 rising stars is determined by a panel made up of top soccer media members and the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff. In recent years, players honored on the prestigious list have gone on to play key roles on national teams, garnered multi-million dollar transfer fees, and have been recognized with some of the league’s top awards, including Rookie of the Year and MLS Best XI.
Agudelo, 23, is currently in his sixth MLS campaign and his third with the Revolution. The Barnegat, N.J. native is seeking his fifth selection to the list, and his third with New England, having been ranked 13th in 2015, sixth in 2013, 13th in 2012, and second in 2011. Agudelo has amassed 30 goals and 13 assists in his MLS career, including five goals this season, the second most on the squad. The forward has appeared in 124 games, starting 73, for three MLS clubs – New England (2013, 2015-16), Chivas USA (2012-13), and the New York Red Bulls (2010-12) – since beginning his career as a Red Bulls Homegrown Player in 2010.
Fagundez, 21, is eligible for his fifth overall and fourth consecutive selection to the prestigious list after earning a 17th-place nod in 2015, fifth-place recognition in both 2014 and 2013, and a 20th-place selection as a rookie in 2011. The sixth-year pro became the first Homegrown Player signing in Revolution history in 2011, and is the youngest player in league history to make 100 appearances and total 25 goals. In 2016, he became the second youngest player in MLS annals to reach 100 career starts. For his career, Fagundez owns 32 goals and 22 assists in 147 career starts.
Hollinger-Janzen, 22, burst on the MLS scene in his rookie campaign after being selected by New England in the third round of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. In 2016, Femi has made 16 appearances, with one start, and totaled two goals with on assist. Femi could become the first Revolution rookie to earn the honor since Andrew Farrell in 2013, who placed ninth on the list after being the first-overall selection in the 2013 SuperDraft.