Kamil Castillo joins D.C. United roster in homegrown move

Kamil Castillo signed a D.C. United Homegrown contract through 2030, adding another teenager to the club’s first-team pathway. The agreement includes an option for June 2031, the club said.

The 16-year-old midfielder becomes the 24th Homegrown player in D.C. United history. He joins current roster Homegrown players Jackson Hopkins, Gavin Turner, Oscar Avilez and Grant Leveille, giving the club another internally developed option as it builds depth beyond the senior transfer market.

Castillo joins the 2030 roster plan

D.C. United’s move places Castillo on a long-term development track rather than a short trial window. A contract running through 2030 gives the club time to manage his growth from academy competition toward the professional game, while the June 2031 option preserves flexibility if his progression continues.

Dr. C. United Managing Director of Soccer Operations, said the signing followed Castillo’s performances across age groups. "Kamil's development through the Academy reflects the standard he has held himself to at every level. He has shown consistent quality across multiple age groups and has earned this opportunity through his performances. C. United Academy in January 2024 from Achilles FC.

Since then, the club said he has moved through several academy levels, a fast rise that positioned him for a Homegrown deal before his 17th birthday.

Six goals, seven assists

His most recent academy season supplied the clearest statistical case for the contract. D.C. United said Castillo produced six goals and seven assists in 33 appearances for the Black-and-Red, playing at the U-18 level and in MLS NEXT Flex and Pro Pathway competition.

The club lists Castillo as a 5-foot-11, right-footed central midfielder. D.C. United described him as an athletic player with a high work rate and the range to cover large areas, while also noting he can play in wider attacking roles.

Kevin Flanagan, D.C. United Director of Academy and Player Development, tied the signing to the local player base around the club. He said Castillo reflects the DMV talent pool, citing his work rate, competitive character and creativity on the ball as traits that have pushed his development.

Dominican Republic and U.S. ties

Castillo’s international background adds another layer to his profile. The midfielder holds Dominican and American citizenship, and D.C. United said he has appeared in youth environments for both countries.

He made his Dominican Republic U-17 debut in February 2026. At 2026 Concacaf U-17 World Cup qualifying, he recorded two goals and three assists in three matches, including a start in a 1-1 group-stage draw against the United States in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Castillo has also represented the Dominican Republic at the Concacaf U-15 Championship. On the U.S. side, he has been called into youth national team camps at the U-14 and U-16 levels, with D.C. United saying his most recent U-16 camp came in Florida this past March.

Academy pathway faces its test

The signing gives D.C. United another proof point for a Homegrown system that the club said has produced 24 players since 2009. For MLS clubs, these deals can help convert local scouting and academy investment into roster depth, provided the player can bridge the gap between youth production and senior minutes.

The main uncertainty is the speed of that transition. If Castillo adapts to first-team training and earns competitive minutes, D.C. United gains a low-age roster asset developed inside its own structure, and the academy strengthens its case with families weighing professional pathways.

If the move requires a slower route, the effect is different but still measurable inside the club. D.C. United would need to use academy, reserve or staged competition carefully, while the wider youth-development sector would watch whether long contracts for 16-year-olds create patient progression or added pressure too early.

The international question is also open. If Castillo continues to appear for Dominican Republic youth teams, his pathway may raise his profile in Concacaf competition; if U.S. camps remain part of his calendar, D.C. United will be managing a prospect whose development is tied to two national-team systems as well as its own.