EDMONTON, AB – FC Edmonton and the Academy are delighted to announce the signing of forward David Doe and midfielder Abraham Dukuly to first-team contracts. As per club policy, terms of the deals are not disclosed.

Both Doe and Dukuly put pen to paper on Monday night during the club’s 2017-18 Academy Orientation at St. Joseph High School, beginning the night fittingly by continuing the club’s long line of success stories of Academy players graduating to the club’s first-team squad.

“It brings a great sense of pride and validation to the commitment put into the Academy by the staff when we’re able to sign our youth players to the first-team,” said FC Edmonton assistant coach and Academy technical director Jeff Paulus. “It’s important for our club to keep promoting young players. I believe we give them one of the best chances to play professionally in the country and validates the incredible work in our Academy from our staff and players.”

Dukuly, a product of Edmonton Xtreme FC like previous graduate and current first-team player Allan Zebie, is described as a special 1-on-1 player with great instincts that draws comparisons to former Academy graduate and FC Edmonton player Hanson Boakai. Dukuly was recently named to the 2017 Canada Summer Games All-Star Team, being described by many coaches as the most impactful player at the tournament.

Doe had a positive upbringing through the St. Albert Soccer Association and the St. Albert Impact program before winning nationals with Edmonton Juventus in 2016. Having all the attributes to be a powerful striker, Doe can strike with either foot and has already been training with the first-team for close to a month.

“Full credit to the staff and everyone behind the scenes that help make this Academy run,” Paulus added. “Also credit to Edmonton Xtreme FC for Abraham, who’ve done a great job helping him in his footballing career. Miladen Gajic was a long-time coach he had there that helped mould him into the player he is today. David had a great influence from St. Albert Soccer, and they’ve helped give him the skills to come into our Academy and now our first-team.”