Diego Fagundez Bio
Diego Santiago Fagúndez Pepe (born 14 February 1995) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. After rising through the New England Revolution academy, he made his professional debut in 2011 and quickly became one of the most talked-about young talents in Major League Soccer. Across more than a decade in the league, Fagúndez has played for the New England Revolution, Austin FC, and LA Galaxy, earning a reputation for his creativity, set-piece quality, and longevity.
Known for his passing range and knack for arriving in scoring positions, Fagúndez is also a Uruguay youth international and a former South American U-20 Championship participant. In 2024, he was part of the LA Galaxy side that won the MLS Cup, cementing his standing as one of the most accomplished players of his generation in MLS.
Early Life and Background
Diego Santiago Fagúndez Pepe was born on 14 February 1995 in Montevideo, Uruguay. When he was five years old, his family relocated to Leominster, Massachusetts, where he was raised and where he first fell in love with organized football. He began playing for Leominster Youth Soccer and later moved through several regional clubs in the New England area.
Fagúndez also represented the Massachusetts Olympic Development Program from 2006 to 2009, serving as captain of his squad from 2008 to 2009. He was a State Cup finalist with FC United in 2005 and a winner in 2006, and he lifted the State Cup with FC Greater Boston Bolts in 2008 and 2009. In 2007, he was named an Adidas Interregional All-Star as a member of the Region I ODP team.
His father, Washington Fagúndez, was a professional goalkeeper with Central Español in Uruguay during the 1990s and later served as his son’s representative. Fagúndez is also the godson of former Uruguayan international Diego Dorta, a 1995 Copa América winner, after whom he is named.
Path to Professional Soccer
Fagúndez joined the New England Revolution academy in 2009, where he quickly stood out. In his debut season with the club’s U-16 squad, he helped the team post a 14–7–8 record, finishing first in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. He scored 20 goals in 30 appearances, tying Felix Debona for the team lead.
On 10 March 2011, Top Drawer Soccer named Fagúndez the number one ranked player nationally in the class of 2013, a reflection of his rapid development through the academy ranks. That recognition, combined with his scoring record, set the stage for his first professional contract later that year.
Diego Fagundez Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
On 15 November 2010, the New England Revolution signed Fagúndez to a professional contract, making him the first homegrown player the club ever signed from its academy. Although he remained on the senior roster, he continued to train and play with the youth team to ease his transition into the professional game.
He made his full professional debut on 26 April 2011 in a 3–2 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over D.C. United. Fagúndez then made his MLS league debut on 6 August 2011 as a substitute against Chivas USA, drawing a penalty that was converted by Shalrie Joseph and scoring his first league goal for New England in the same match.
New England Revolution Breakthrough (2013–2020)
Fagúndez became a regular starter for the New England Revolution in 2013, enjoying a breakout season with 13 goals and 7 assists. He earned MLS Player of the Week honors in week 14 of that season and was listed at number five on the league’s 2013 “24 Under 24” list. In October 2013, he received a U.S. green card, qualifying him as a domestic player under MLS roster rules.
During the 2015 season, Fagúndez became the youngest player in MLS history to reach 100 appearances for a single club, a milestone that underlined his consistency. He later added further club records, becoming the youngest player in league history to score 50 career MLS goals when he hit that mark on 28 October 2018 in a match against the Montreal Impact. He was also named the Midnight Riders Man of the Year at the end of the 2017 MLS season.
By the close of his first stint with the Revolution, Fagúndez had climbed to fourth on the franchise’s all-time appearance list, finishing the 2020 regular season one appearance shy of tying Shalrie Joseph for the all-time record. After the 2020 campaign, the club declined to renew his contract, and Fagúndez announced his departure through a farewell post on his personal Instagram account.
Austin FC Era (2021–2023)
On 5 January 2021, Fagúndez signed a one-year deal with expansion side Austin FC, beginning a new chapter in Texas. He announced his arrival in dramatic fashion on 24 April 2021, scoring the first goal in Austin FC’s history in a 3–1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. The following week, he added the game-winner in a 1–0 win over Minnesota United FC, and he was named Man of the Match in Austin’s first home match, a 0–0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes.
In 2022, Fagúndez set up Austin’s first-ever goal in national competition play during a 2–1 U.S. Open Cup loss to San Antonio FC, and he finished the season as the club’s all-time leader in assists with 20, including 15 during the 2022 campaign. In February 2023, he signed a new three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year, but a difficult start to the 2023 season brought public criticism from head coach Josh Wolff, leading to his departure later that summer.
LA Galaxy Era (2023–2025)
On 1 August 2023, Fagúndez was traded to the LA Galaxy in exchange for Memo Rodríguez, $300,000 in General Allocation Money, and a potential $600,000 in additional General Allocation Money. He scored his first Galaxy goal on 21 September 2023, an 82nd-minute game-winner in a 4–3 victory over Minnesota United.
On 13 April 2024, Fagúndez scored his first goal of the 2024 season, becoming only the 10th player in MLS history to record at least 70 goals and 70 assists in regular-season play. He made his 400th career MLS appearance on 26 October 2024 during a 5–0 playoff win over the Colorado Rapids, and he went on to lift the MLS Cup with the Galaxy after a 2–1 victory over the New York Red Bulls in the final.
Return to the New England Revolution (2026–Present)
On 13 March 2026, the New England Revolution announced that they had re-signed Fagúndez to a one-year contract with a club option for an additional year. Two days later, he made his first appearance back with the club against Cincinnati FC, recording his 80th career assist just one minute after coming on as a substitute, and surpassing Shalrie Joseph for second-most appearances in Revolution history with his 262nd outing for the team. On 14 April 2026, he scored his first goal of his second stint in a U.S. Open Cup round-of-32 victory over Rhode Island FC.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fagúndez is best known for his vision and passing accuracy in the final third, regularly operating as a creator behind the strikers. He is comfortable shooting from distance, dangerous from set pieces, and composed in tight spaces around the penalty area. His tactical intelligence has allowed him to adapt to multiple attacking roles, from central midfielder to wide forward, throughout his MLS career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights include scoring the first goal in Austin FC history, becoming the youngest player in MLS history to reach 100 appearances for one club and to score 50 league goals, joining the 70-goal and 70-assist club, and winning the 2024 MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy. He has also represented Uruguay at multiple youth levels, including the 2015 South American Youth Championship.
Diego Fagundez Career Wins
Across his MLS career, Fagúndez has collected a 2024 MLS Cup championship with the LA Galaxy and the 2015 South American U-20 Championship with Uruguay. He has also earned individual recognition, including the 2017 Midnight Riders Man of the Year award and a 2013 “24 Under 24” selection.
League Highlights
Fagúndez made his MLS league debut on 6 August 2011, scoring his first goal against Chivas USA. His most recent confirmed competitive goal came on 14 April 2026 in a U.S. Open Cup victory over Rhode Island FC, a return to scoring form in his second stint with the New England Revolution.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth level, Fagúndez was a State Cup finalist in 2005 with FC United, a State Cup winner in 2006 with FC United, and a State Cup winner in 2008 and 2009 with FC Greater Boston Bolts. He also represented the Massachusetts Olympic Development Program and was named a 2007–2008 Adidas Interregional All-Star.
Diego Fagundez Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Diego’s father, Washington Fagúndez, was a professional goalkeeper who played for Central Español in Uruguay during the 1990s. Washington has also served as his son’s agent throughout his MLS career. Fagúndez is the godson of former Uruguayan international Diego Dorta, a 1995 Copa América winner, and he was named in his honor.
Personal Life
Fagúndez is married to his wife Paige, and the couple has three children together. During his first stint with the New England Revolution, he famously described himself as “a soccer player in the morning and a farmer in the afternoon,” reflecting the variety of animals, including dogs, rabbits, turtles, iguanas, fish, and chickens, that he kept at home. He received his U.S. green card in October 2013 and announced on 13 March 2024 that he had become a U.S. citizen.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was Fagúndez’s final campaign under his LA Galaxy contract. Following the team’s MLS Cup triumph the previous year, expectations were high for the veteran midfielder to remain a central figure in the squad. Although specific 2025 in-season statistics are not fully verified in the available sources, his role continued to emphasize his experience and leadership in the attacking midfield.
At the end of the 2025 season, the Galaxy announced that they had declined Fagúndez’s contract option, but the club remained in negotiations to re-sign him to a new deal. Those discussions did not produce a new contract before his existing deal expired, leaving his future unresolved heading into the following offseason.
His eventual return to the New England Revolution in March 2026, where he quickly added to his career assist and appearance totals, suggested that the 2025 season marked a transition rather than a decline. Going forward, Fagúndez appears positioned to continue contributing as a veteran presence in MLS while chasing further club records in New England.
