WASHINGTON - Georgetown University defender Joshua Yaro (Santa Barbara, Calif./Cate School) has announced that he will forgo his senior season on the Hilltop and has signed a Major League Soccer (MLS) Generation adidas contract. Yaro is the first Hoya to ever sign a Generation adidas contract.

Yaro announced his decision on Twitter on Wednesday evening.

"I'd like to thank all of the Georgetown faculty, coaching staff, and my teammates for contributing to my growth as a player and person the last three years. At this time, I'd like to announce my intention to commence a career in professional soccer. I firmly believe my time at Georgetown has paved the way to my success, both on and off the soccer field, and I can't emphasize the appreciation I have for being considered part of the Hoya family."

Yaro, an NSCAA Second Team All-America honoree, was named the unanimous BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST for the second-consecutive year. He was also First Team All-Great Lakes Region. The team captain started 17 games for the Blue & Gray in 2015, missing four contests due to injury, and played a key role in the squad's nine shutouts. On offense, he posted an assist.

Yaro was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Preseason All-BIG EAST and to TopDrawerSoccer.com's Preseason Best XI First Team. He was also named the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26.

This was his second-consecutive All-America award, and third-consecutive all-region selection.

Off the field, he was named NSCAA First Team Scholar All-America, CoSIDA Academic All-District and was a two-time BIG EAST All-Academic honoree.

Players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive the opportunity to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level by training and playing with one of Major League Soccer's 20 professional clubs. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team's salary budget.

Yaro is the third player this season to sign a professional contract. He is joining Brandon Allen (Old Bridge, N.J./St. Joseph) and Alex Muyl (New York, N.Y./Bard) who both signed Homegrown Contracts with the New York Red Bulls in December. Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese has now had 12 players be drafted or sign with an MLS club or the league in his tenure on the Hilltop.