FRISCO, Texas – “The MLS SuperDraft is tomorrow but we’ve already got our top pick—and that’s you,” were Dan Hunt’s words to new Homegrown Eddie Munjoma last week before his signing.
Munjoma joins FC Dallas as its league-leading 27th Homegrown signing. After leaving the FCD Academy in 2016, the 21-year-old defender played 66 games over four seasons for the SMU Mustangs. He was named as a first team All-American and won the AAC defensive player of the year after scoring 12 goals and adding seven assists his senior season—an impressive return for a right-back.
“It feels amazing coming back to the club where I grew as a player and grew as a man,” Munjoma said. “Obviously, I wanted to wait to finish school and get an education but it’s an exciting homecoming and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
As a McKinney, Texas native, wearing the FC Dallas colors has extra significance for Munjoma.
“It’s more than just representing the club, it’s representing the city that I grew up in,” Munjoma continued. “So I’m obviously very excited and I can’t wait to get to work, meet the guys and get on the field.”
Munjoma faces stiff competition in his position. Fellow Homegrown Reggie Cannon has blossomed into one of the premier right backs in MLS and has been a mainstay in the USMNT camp over the last year. Also, 18-year-old Bryan Reynolds showed immense promise in cameos for both FC Dallas and North Texas SC last season.
Regardless, Luchi Gonzalez knows the qualities Munjoma brings—both from his time at SMU and in the Academy.
“Eddie brings a lot of things,” Gonzalez said. “He’s not just a talent on the field, he’s a profile in terms of family, communications, work ethic, mentality. He just graduated so we’re very proud of that. It’s very important for us that those players pursue education opportunities. And then on the field, he’s grown into a leader at SMU—a program that’s close to us.
“I have a lot of experience with him in the Academy and he had a winning mentality from there. He’s a social leader as well as a leader on the field, and he’s got the talent to complement those things. So we’re looking forward to him competing on this roster in preseason and earning his way.”
Still just 21, Munjoma feels his four collegiate seasons helped polish him as a player and readied him for the jump to the pros.
“I think definitely matured as a player and a person. I grew a little bit and started paying closer attention to details to certain things that I was more oblivious to while I was here (in the Academy). So it definitely helped me out a lot, I got a degree and have an education in my pocket but obviously I’m ready to take the next step and be a professional.”
