Nick Lima Bio
Nicholas Lima, known professionally as Nick Lima, is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. Born in Castro Valley, California, Lima spent the bulk of his Major League Soccer career with the San Jose Earthquakes after coming through the club’s youth system. He also represented Austin FC and the New England Revolution before returning to the Earthquakes for a final stint ahead of the 2025 season.
Standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, Lima combined a calm, technical approach with the versatility to line up across the back line during his MLS career. He earned a senior cap with the United States men’s national team in 2019 and was part of the American squad that finished as runner-up at the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Lima was born on November 17, 1994, in Castro Valley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. He grew up in a region with a deep connection to the game, and his family background is of Mexican descent, shaping his early connection to soccer culture in Northern California.
Lima joined the San Jose Earthquakes youth setup in 2010 and spent two formative years developing in the club’s academy system. The Earthquakes academy gave him his first structured platform in the professional game and laid the foundation for the path that would eventually lead him back to the organization as a senior player.
Path to Soccer
After his time in the San Jose Earthquakes youth ranks, Lima took the college route, enrolling at the University of California, Berkeley. He played four years of college soccer for the California Golden Bears between 2013 and 2016, balancing academics with the demands of a competitive Pac-12 schedule. The college environment allowed him to mature physically and tactically while still competing at a high level.
During his college years, Lima also gained senior-level experience with the Burlingame Dragons of the Premier Development League, appearing for the club from 2015 to 2016. Those developmental minutes gave him a taste of the men’s game and helped prepare him for the jump to Major League Soccer.
Nick Lima Career
Early Career (2010–2016)
Lima’s earliest recorded professional pathway began in the San Jose Earthquakes academy, where he featured in 2010 and 2011. That youth experience was followed by a four-year college stint at the University of California, Berkeley, where he represented the California Golden Bears from 2013 through 2016.
While still in college, he also played for Premier Development League side Burlingame Dragons, where the schedule and physicality of the men’s game helped bridge the gap to the MLS level. By the time he finished his senior season at Cal, Lima was ready to turn professional with the club that had first developed him.
San Jose Earthquakes (2017–2020)
On December 21, 2016, Lima signed a Homegrown Player contract with the San Jose Earthquakes, the same organization where he had come through the academy. He made his professional debut on March 4, 2017, starting in a 1–0 win over the Montreal Impact. One week later, on March 11, 2017, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–2 home victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC, becoming the first Homegrown player to find the net in Earthquakes history.
His rookie campaign was widely recognized. On October 14, 2017, Lima was nominated for two league awards: the MLS Defender of the Year Award alongside teammate Florian Jungwirth, and the MLS Rookie of the Year Award alongside Jackson Yueill. He went on to become a regular starter at right back for the Earthquakes over the next several seasons, though the club eventually announced that his contract would not be renewed.
Austin FC (2021–2023)
On December 13, 2020, Lima was traded to expansion side Austin FC in exchange for $500,000 in General Allocation Money. He joined the Verde as they built their first MLS roster and immediately added veteran experience to a young back line.
Lima featured prominently for Austin FC during their inaugural seasons, providing defensive stability and serving as a leader in the locker room. He remained a regular contributor through the 2023 campaign before being moved again.
New England Revolution (2024)
On December 11, 2023, Lima was traded to the New England Revolution in exchange for $275,000 in General Allocation Money. He wasted little time making an impact, scoring his first goal for the club on March 6, 2024, during a 4–0 victory over Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
He spent a single season in New England before his contract expired, leaving him as a free agent heading into the 2024–2025 offseason.
Return to San Jose Earthquakes (2025)
On December 18, 2024, Lima returned to the San Jose Earthquakes on a two-year deal ahead of the 2025 season, completing a circle that began in the club’s youth academy. The move reunited him with the organization where he had made his professional debut and scored his first MLS goal.
His return was short-lived. On January 16, 2026, Lima announced his retirement from professional soccer, closing the book on a career that began and ended in San Jose.
Notable Events and Milestones
Lima’s most memorable early milestone came on March 11, 2017, when his goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC made him the first Homegrown player ever to score for the San Jose Earthquakes. He followed it with a finalist nod for MLS Rookie of the Year and a Defender of the Year nomination later that same season. He also played a role in the United States’ run to the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, finishing as a runner-up in the regional tournament.
Nick Lima Career Wins
While Nick Lima’s career was defined more by consistent defending and longevity than by trophy-case headlines, he did feature for clubs that reached postseason play and contributed to team successes at the developmental level. His clearest team milestones include a CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up finish with the United States in 2019.
Other Wins and Performances
Lima appeared in multiple playoff pushes during his stints with the San Jose Earthquakes, Austin FC, and the New England Revolution, and helped Austin FC establish a defensive identity during the club’s first MLS seasons. In New England, he played a part in the team’s 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup run, which included a 4–0 win over Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in which he scored.
Nick Lima Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nick Lima was raised in Castro Valley, California, in a family of Mexican descent. His upbringing in the Bay Area helped shape his introduction to soccer, and the San Jose Earthquakes academy gave him an early connection to one of the region’s flagship professional clubs.
Personal Life
Off the field, Lima remained closely tied to the Bay Area throughout his career. His path through Cal and the Earthquakes youth system reflected a deep connection to Northern California, which ultimately brought him back to San Jose for the final chapter of his playing days before he announced his retirement in January 2026.
2025 Season Performance
Lima’s 2025 campaign marked his return to the San Jose Earthquakes on a two-year deal signed in December 2024. The reunion gave him a chance to serve as a veteran presence in the locker room while competing for minutes along the back line. His familiarity with the club’s system made him a natural fit for the Earthquakes’ defensive plans.
The season allowed Lima to close out his professional career in the city where it began, contributing to a San Jose side looking to climb the Western Conference standings. The campaign served as a farewell tour of sorts for a player whose first and last chapters both wore the Earthquakes badge.
Lima announced his retirement on January 16, 2026, ending his time as an active player and transitioning into the next phase of his life after soccer.