LUMBERTON — A 14-year-old Lumberton Junior High School student signed Thursday to play soccer for a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer.
Ivan Lopez, an 8th grader at the school, signed to play soccer with the New England Revolution Thursday during a ceremonial signing in the auditorium of Lumberton Junior High School.
“This is an unbelievable opportunity for me,” Ivan Lopez said. “I’m really excited about it.”
The teen will be relocating to Massachusetts in August to start his new journey in professional soccer.
“He’s doing something that has never been done in our school history,” said Daniel Humphrey, Lumberton Junior High School athletic director and soccer coach.
The coach also said the team will officially retire Ivan’s jersey number 10 in honor of him.
Multiple people including school staff and others spoke during the ceremony, commending Ivan for his attitude, grades and character and wishing him well in his new journey.
“Keep the same character. Keep the same attitude about life. Don’t let anybody drag you down,” Humphrey said.
He also said the school, city and county will be supporting Ivan.
The teen previously spent a week training in Spain with Villarreal CF, a professional team in La Liga.