OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Roots SC announced on Thursday it had signed Academy product Ilya Alekseev to his first professional contract with the club.

Alekseev previously competed this year for Roots’ USL League Two squad Project 51O and for the Roots as a USL Academy signing. He played a significant role in Project 51O’s deepest run in the League Two Playoffs.

The 18-year-old has also notched a pair of goals in the Championship in nine appearances this season, logging 383 minutes of action for the First Team in league play while also notching one assist in the 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“Ilya has come into the first team and kept his head down and worked hard doing everything we have asked of him in training,” said Oakland Roots Head Coach Gavin Glinton. “From being a leader on Project 51O and stepping in when called upon for Roots with key contributions has been great to see from him and I look forward to his continued growth with the first team.”

Alekseev is a graduate of Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calif. Raised in the East Bay, Alekseev honed his skills with Ballistic United Soccer Club before becoming a key figure for Project 51O. He played a crucial role in leading the team to win the UPSL NorCal South Division crown in the fall of 2023 and advance to the USL League Two Western Conference Final in 2024.

Alekseev’s transition from Ballistic United SC followed his involvement in the Roots Recognize Initiative (RRI) program during his junior year of high school, which further advanced his soccer career and led to his signing with Oakland Roots SC.