Pitt F Bertin Jacquesson Signs Generation Adidas Deal, Ends Collegiate Career

Pitt junior forward Bertin Jacuqesson signed a Generation adidas contract and will end his collegiate career, the program announced on Tuesday.

Congrats to junior @BertinJacquess4 on becoming the FIRST Panther in program history to sign a Generation adidas contract with the @MLS 👏👏

Tune in tomorrow at 5pm to see where Bertin is selected in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.#H2P // ✍️ https://t.co/T2FKIYKW97 pic.twitter.com/1nOPea6a8F

— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 20, 2022

Generation adidas is a joint venture between the MLS and Adidas. The program helps underclassmen and youth nationals to earn a Generation adidas contract that allows them to participate in the MLS Superdraft. The MLS clubs that sign players on Generation adidas contracts don’t go against those clubs annual budgets. This gives an incentive for those teams to sign players on those contract and gives them time to develop those players.

Jacquesson finishes his collegiate career as one of the best players in Pitt history, particular as an attacker. He scored 19  goals, provided 23 assists and 61 points over 57 matches at Pitt.

The 23 assists are the second most for a Panther and the 61 points are seventh best in Panthers history.

Jacquesson played a big part in Pitt making three straight Elite Eight appearances and two College Cups from 2020-22.

He finished this past year with eight goals and five assists and started all 19 games he played.

Jacquesson scored three goals in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, second most on the team behind senior midfielder Valentin Noel who scored four goals. He scored twice against Cleveland State in a 2-1 victory at home in the First Round and then scored an incredible strike for an 87th minute winner over No. 1 Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on the road.

This was an ELITE goal.

Take a bow, @BertinJacquess4 💥#H2P pic.twitter.com/IZzKG8a9F9

— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) November 28, 2022

He created the assist for Noel who scored the go-ahead goal in the second period of extra time of their Elite Eight victory over Portland.

114' | GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!@Vlnt_Noel heads home the first goal of the match after a great cross by @BertinJacquess4

Pitt 1, Portland 0#H2P pic.twitter.com/Jqm312izNJ

— Pitt Men's Soccer (@Pitt_MSOC) December 3, 2022

Jacquesson earned All-ACC Second Team honors all three seasons at Pitt. He also made the All-ACC Freshman Team in 2020-21 and TopDrawerSoccer named him the Freshman of the Year.

The MLS Superdraft takes place Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 5 p.m. Stay tuned for more coverage of the Superdraft with Pittsburgh Soccer Now.