FC Dallas has signed first and third-round draft picks Tesho Akindele and Nicholas Walker (pending Walker’s P-1 Visa). Per league policy, terms of the deals will not be disclosed.
The club selected Akindele with the sixth overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, and then later added Walker in the third round.
A native of Thornton, Colo., Akindele played four seasons for the Colorado School of Mines where the 6’1” forward became the school’s all-time goals leader with 76 goals scored. He ranked second in the nation in goals scored in 2012 with 22 and was named a First Team NSCAA All-American and the 2012 RMAC Offensive Player of the Year for his efforts. Also an NSCAA First Team All-American and the RMAC Freshman of the Year in 2010, Akindele was the first player in the history of his school’s conference to score three consecutive hat tricks.
Walker, selected with the fifth pick in the third round (43rd overall), was a two-time all-North Atlantic region first team selection at Fairleigh Dickinson. The 24-year-old center back was also named 2013 Northeast Conference Defender of the Year as a senior. Walker started 69 of the 71 games he played as a four-year starter for the Knights. He finished his collegiate career with four goals.
FC Dallas opens the 2014 season at Toyota Stadium on March 8 against the Montreal Impact, presented by AdvoCare.
Transaction: Signed F Tesho Akindele, D Nicholas Walker