Jacob Murrell

Jacob Murrell (born March 28, 2004) is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United in Major League Soccer. Murrell previously played college soccer for Georgetown University, and high school soccer for the McDonogh School, the latter of which he was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Boys' Soccer, a national recognition for the top boys high school soccer player in the United States.

Early career

Murrell was born and raised in Forest Hill, Maryland which is the northeastern part of the Baltimore metropolitan area. He played high school soccer for all four of his seasons at the McDonogh School, a private school near Owings Mills, Maryland. Throughout his high school years, Murrell was used a versatile, utility player, playing multiple positions, before transitioning to forward his junior and senior years. Murrell played as a midfielder his freshman season and as a defender his sophomore year. Murrell had a breakout season his senior year, scoring 41 goals and providing 20 assists in 24 games, helping McDonogh finish the season with a 21–3–0 record. There, he helped McDonogh reach the A Conference championship, where they lost to Calvert Hall in the MIAA Conference A Championship.

In June 2022, Murrell was selected as the boys' soccer winner for the Gatorade National Player of the Year Award.

Ahead of the 2022 NCAA Division I men's soccer season, Murrell committed to playing college soccer for Georgetown, turning down offers from Maryland, Penn, and American.

Murrell scored 10 goals in 10 matches for the Annapolis Blues in 2023, leading them to 2023 NPSL Mid-Atlantic Regular Season Champions. Murrell scored a 97th minute equalizer vs the Alexandria Reds to send thematch to penalty kicks, where the Blues would win 4-2 infront of over 8,800 fans at Naval-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis.

Professional career

On December 19, 2023, Murrell was selected seventh overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by local MLS side, D.C. United. On January 5, 2024, he signed a contract with the club forgoing his final two years of collegiate eligibility, rejecting offers from PSG, Manchester City and Arsenal.