Diego Abarca

Diego Abarca

Personal information
Date of birth	(2005-06-19) June 19, 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	El Paso, Texas, United States
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Austin FC II
Number	77
Youth career
2020–2022	El Paso Locomotive
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2024	El Paso Locomotive	16	(1)
2024–	Austin FC II	17	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:56, March 15, 2025 (UTC)

Diego Abarca (born June 19, 2005) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Austin FC II in MLS Next Pro.

Career

El Paso Locomotive

As part of the El Paso youth academy, Abarca signed a USL Academy contract allowing him to play in professional games in 2021. ^{[1] [2]} He made his professional debut on March 24, 2022, against Las Vegas Lights. ^[3] He started and played 58 minutes. ^{[4] [5]}

He scored his first professional goal against Hartford Athletic on June 5, 2022, ^[6] three minutes after coming on as a substitute for fellow Academy member Venancio Calderon. ^[7] This goal later won Locomotive Goal of the Year. ^[8] He also became the youngest player to score a goal for Locomotive. ^[9] On October 28, 2022, Abarca signed a fully professional contract with El Paso ahead of the 2023 season. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13] [5]}

Austin FC II

On 20 June 2024, Abarca was signed by Austin FC II through the 2024 season with two two-year options. ^[14]

Personal life

Born in the United States to Chilean parents, his father, José, was a footballer for Unión Española and his mother, Sandra Ramírez, is the cousin of the former Chile international footballer, Jorge Acuña. ^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of March 14, 2025 ^[16]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
El Paso Locomotive FC	2022	USL Championship	8	1	0	0	–		–		8	1
	2023		5	0	1	0	–		0	0	6	0
	2024		3	0	0	0	–		–		3	0
	Total		16	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	17	1
Austin FC II	2024	MLS Next Pro	15	2	0	0	–		–		15	2
	2025		2	0	–		–		–		2	0
	Total		17	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	2
Career total			33	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	34	3

Notes

1. Includes appearances in U.S. Open Cup

References

1. "Youth Soccer Academy Signings". El Paso Locomotive Youth Soccer Club. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
2. "How El Paso Locomotive found success without Diego Luna". Backheeled. July 12, 2022.
3. "El Paso Locomotive Ends Dramatic Match Against Las Vegas Lights, 4-5". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
4. "El Paso Locomotive FC vs. Las Vegas Lights FC - Football Match Summary - March 23, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
5. "Locomotive sign eight local youths to Academy contracts, can play USL games". El Paso Times.
6. "Diego Abarca Stuns with First Professional Goal". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
7. "Go, Go, Diego! El Paso's Abarca grabs memorable first goal". USL Championship. 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
8. "End of Year Awards 2022". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
9. "El Paso Locomotive vs Hartford Athletic ends in 1-1 Draw - El Paso Herald Post". 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
10. "Locomotive FC makes landmark signings, Academy products Abarca, Maldonado turn pro". USL Championship. October 28, 2022.
11. "Locomotive FC signs pair of Academy players to pro contracts for first time in club history". October 28, 2022.
12. Murray, Nicholas (March 8, 2023). "11 Young Players to Know ahead of this USL Championship season". USL Championship.
13. "Locomotive sign eight local youths to Academy contracts, can play USL games". Yahoo News. 22 March 2023.
14. "Austin FC II Signs Midfielder Diego Abarca". AustinFC.com. Austin FC II. June 20, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
15. Vega, Diego (13 May 2022). "El sobrino del 'Kike' Acuña que juega en Estados Unidos y sueña con la Roja". Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 September 2024.
16. Diego Abarca at Soccerway

External links

• Diego Abarca at Soccerway.com