FC Dallas has given new multi-year contracts to forward Tesho Akindele, midfielder Mauro Diaz and defender Moises Hernandez, the MLS club announced on Thursday.
Akindele, last year's MLS Rookie of the Year, will be tied to the Dallas until 2018, while Diaz and Hernandez are signed through the 2019 season. The club did not reveal terms of the deals.
"When you're looking at our idea [of] how to build a team, you have to look at the core [players]," technical director Fernando Clavijo told the club's website. "Being able to keep these [three] players playing in the United States is a huge opportunity for us to show that we have a place to provide for these young players - not only to play at the highest level, but to keep growing."
After being selected with the sixth pick in the 2014 draft, Akindele, 23, has scored 10 goals in 40 appearances. He'll play for Canada's in this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"I couldn't be happier right now," he said. "This team obviously took a chance on me when maybe some other teams wouldn't have in the draft. I'm glad it worked out my first year and I'm excited to be here."
Diaz, 24, leads the team in assists with four this seasons.
"Mauro has a special talent and it's not easy to find," coach Oscar Pareja said. "We are targeting those kinds of players to stay in the league and come young, get them in their prime years and with Mauro that is happening."
Hernandez, 23, becomes FC Dallas' first homegrown academy player to sign a long-term contract extension with the senior club. He has appeared in 12 matches this season and has been a mainstay on the Guatemalan national team this year after playing youth internationals for the U.S.
"This is a dream for me, a dream come true, to play in Dallas and sign for more years here," Hernandez said. "This is my home. I'm happy to be here, this is my team, it's a blessing to be playing in front of my family and friends and I'm happy to [have signed] my new contract."