US Under-17 midfielder Jared Jeffrey has put pen to paper with Belgian giants Club Brugge, signing a three-year deal plus options with the Jupiler League leaders.

The Texan first caught the club's eye when playing for the US against the Blauw-Zwart last summer.

Jeffrey, who began training with the 13-time Belgian champs in January, will go straight into the first team squad at the Jan Breydelstadion.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for him," Jeffrey's representative Steve Kelly told American Soccer Daily. "They have been on his case since July, and they beat off interest from a number of English clubs to sign him to a top-class contract."

After 21 games, Club Brugge lead Belgium's top division by three points over Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liege, whom they host Sunday in the country's marquee game of the season to date.