More than two years after originally joining the Everton Academy, U.S. goalkeeper Nicolas Defreitas-Hansen will stay at least two more years.

The Florida native and U.S. youth national team veteran, Defreitas-Hansen signed a two-year professional contract with Everton, the club announced this past week.

“Signing this deal is a proud moment for me and my family,” he told evertonfc.com. “It’s everything I’ve been working towards these past two years. Since I first arrived here, it’s been fantastic. It’s been like a family. It’s a great environment to be in and everyone is so supportive."

✍️ | Goalkeeper @NicolasHansen_ has signed a first professional contract with Everton, penning a two-year deal until June 2021! 👏

➡️ https://t.co/cSFS5VT1Py pic.twitter.com/vwGaj7Yxjg

— Everton (@Everton) July 4, 2019

Before moving to England in 2017, Defreitas-Hansen played club soccer at Weston FC in Florida. He made 23 appearances in the 2015-16 season, and has call-ups to U14, U16 and U17 youth national teams in the past. 

Ranked as the No. 37 player in the 2019 Boys IMG Academy Top 150, he is likely to begin the 2019-20 club season with Everton's Under-23 side.

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