Omar Valencia

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Valenciaand the second or maternal family name is Arauz.

Omar Valencia

Valencia in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Omar Javier Valencia Arauz
Date of birth	(2004-06-08) 8 June 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Panama City, Panama
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	New York Red Bulls
Number	5
Youth career
	C.D. Plaza Amador
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–	C.D. Plaza Amador	8	(0)
2022–	→ New York Red Bulls II (loan)	38	(0)
2024–	New York Red Bulls	14	(0)
International career‡
2022	Panama U20	5	(0)
2023–	Panama	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:27, 18 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 July 2024

Omar Javier Valencia Arauz (born 8 June 2004) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls and the Panama national team.

Career

C.D. Plaza Amador

Born in Panama City, Valencia began his career with Panamanian club C.D. Plaza Amador. He graduated from Plaza Amador's youth setup, and made his senior debut during the 2022 Torneo Apertura. On 6 February 2022, Valencia made his league debut on matchday 1 in a 4–3 victory over Potros del Este. ^[1]

Loan to New York Red Bulls II

On 11 August 2022, Valencia was loaned to Red Bulls II for the remainder of the 2022 season, their last in USL Championship. ^[2] Valencia made his debut for the team on 1 October 2022, against Phoenix Rising FC.

On 8 February 2023, Red Bulls II exercised their option to extend Valencia's loan through the 2023 season, the team's first in MLS Next Pro. ^[3]

On 20 March 2024, Valencia made his U.S. Open Cup debut, appearing as a starter for New York Red Bulls II in a 5–1 victory over Hudson Valley Hammers in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup. ^[4]

Omar Valencia with the New York Red Bulls in 2025

Loan to New York Red Bulls

On 23 March 2024, Valencia and Mohammed Sofo were both called-up to the senior New York Red Bulls roster on a short-term loan ahead of the team's Major League Soccer match against Inter Miami. ^[5] On 8 June 2024, Valencia made his debut for Red Bulls, coming on in the 89th minute for Daniel Edelman. ^[6]

New York Red Bulls

On 9 December 2024, New York Red Bulls announced the signing of Valencia to a first team contract. ^[7] Valencia began the 2025 campaign as a starter for New York. On 1 March 2025, he recorded his first assist for the club, assisting on Emil Forsberg's goal in a 2–0 victory over Nashville SC. ^[8] Valencia was selected to the MLS team of the week for matchday 7, following his performance on 5 April 2025 in a 2–1 win against Chicago Fire, a match in which he assisted on Serge Ngoma's equalizer. ^[9]

International career

Valencia was featured in Panama's squad at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, earning four caps throughout the tournament. On 6 July 2023, Valencia was called up to senior Panama national team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. ^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 August 2025 ^[11]

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
Plaza Amador	2022	Liga Panameña de Fútbol	8	0	—		—		—		8	0
New York Red Bulls II (loan)	2022	USL Championship	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
New York Red Bulls II	2023	MLS Next Pro	15	0	0	0	—		2 [b]	0	17	0
	2024	MLS Next Pro	20	0	2	0	—		0	0	22	0
	Total		38	0	2	0	—		2	0	42	0
New York Red Bulls	2024	Major League Soccer	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2025	Major League Soccer	19	0	1	0	—		1 [c]	0	21	0
	Total		20	0	1	0	—		1	0	22	0
Career total			66	0	3	0	0	0	3	0	72	3

1. Includes U.S. Open Cup
2. Appearances in MLS Next Pro play-offs
3. Appearance in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played 6 July 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Panama	2023	1	0
	2024	1	0
Total		2	0

Honours

Panama

• CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023 ^[12]

References

1. "Apertura 2022 de la Liga Panameña de Fútbol: resultados y la tabla de posiciones tras las fecha 1". futbolcentroamerica.com. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
2. "New York Red Bulls II Add Defender Omar Valencia on Loan from C.D. Plaza Amador". newyorkredbulls.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
3. "New York Red Bulls II Extend Loan of Panamanian Defender Omar Valencia". newyorkredbulls.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
4. "NYRBII- Hudson Valley (5-1)". espn.com.
5. "New York Red Bulls Add NYRB II Midfielder Mohammed Sofo and Defender Omar Valencia on Short-Term Loan Agreements Ahead of Inter Miami CF Match". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
6. "MLS: El panameño Omar Valencia hace su debut con el New York Red Bulls". RPC TV. 9 June 2024.
7. "New York Red Bulls sign Omar Valencia from MLS Next Pro". mlssoccer.com. MLS Soccer . Retrieved 9 December 2024.
8. "Red Bulls Roll to 2-0 Home Victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls . Retrieved 1 March 2025.
9. "RCarlos Coronel, Omar Valencia Named to MLS Team of the Matchday". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls . Retrieved 7 April 2025.
10. "New York Red Bulls II Defender Omar Valencia Called Up to Panama National Team for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup". 6 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
11. "O. Valencia". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
12. "Mexico 1-0 Panama (Jul 16, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 27 March 2025.

External links

• Omar Valencia at Soccerway