Collin Martin to become D.C. United's sixth Homegrown Player

At the end of a hectic day yesterday, which saw the sale of Alain Rochat and the trade for Luis Silva, D.C. United added on more move. It was first rumored on Twitter, and now Steve Goff is reporting that former D.C. United Academy member and current Wake Forest University freshman Collin Martin will be signing a Homegrown Player contract with United. Martin is a creative, attacking midfielder who many people thought was going to forgo MLS altogether and sign a contract in Europe.

Some of you probably first heard Martin's name when he played in a couple Reserve League matches during the 2011 season, as a 16 year old. At that time, our own Martin Shatzer said that Collin Martin was "absolutely good enough to continue playing at the MLS Reserve league level. Beyond that, it may be too soon to tell." This past season, his first at Wake Forest, Martin was listed as one of the top 10 midfielders in all of college soccer by Top Drawer Soccer. He is also a member of the U-20 National Team and was on last year's Milk Cup team.

This signing will make Martin the sixth Homegrown player signed by D.C. United, joining Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Ethan White, Conor Shanosky, and Michael Seaton. The one outstanding question is if he will do a stint with the Richmond Kickers, who are already over halfway done with their regular season, or if he will just stay with United and begin to get minutes with the first team.