Paul Arriola Bio
Paul Joseph Arriola, born February 5, 1995, is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC, where he wears jersey number 17. Standing 5 feet 6 inches tall, Arriola has built a versatile resume that spans top leagues in Mexico, England, and the United States. He is also a senior international for the United States Men’s National Team.
Arriola is a two-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champion, having won the tournament with the United States in 2017 and 2021. He also reached the final as a runner-up in 2019. Across more than a decade as a professional, he has developed a reputation for pace, work rate, and tactical flexibility, often shifting between right midfield and right back depending on his team’s needs.
Early Life and Background
Paul Joseph Arriola was born and raised in Chula Vista, California, a suburb of San Diego near the United States-Mexico border. He is the son of Dawn and Art Arriola. Growing up just a short drive from Tijuana, Arriola developed a lifelong affection for Club Tijuana, the Xolos, which he has called his home team. He attended Mater Dei Catholic High School in Chula Vista and completed coursework through iHigh Virtual Academy in San Diego.
Through his great-grandparents, who were born in Mexico, Arriola holds a Mexican passport in addition to his American citizenship. The dual nationality allowed him to be registered as a domestic player in Liga MX, where foreign-player slots are limited. Family and cultural ties to Mexico shaped his early soccer identity and influenced his choice to begin his professional career just south of the border.
Path to Professional Soccer
Arriola’s youth career included time with the U.S. Soccer Development Academy club Arsenal FC, based in Temecula, California, an organization that has produced several professional players. He then joined the LA Galaxy academy in 2012, spending a year in the system before making the leap to senior soccer.
In December 2012, Arriola was invited to train with Club Tijuana, where he had previously trialed. Even though the Galaxy offered him a professional contract, he chose Tijuana, in part because of the club’s proximity to his hometown of San Diego. That decision allowed him to live with his family in the United States while crossing the border for training and matches. He made his professional league debut in 2013 and never looked back.
Paul Arriola Career
Early Career at Tijuana (2013–2017)
Arriola made his professional debut for Club Tijuana in a preseason friendly against Club América at Petco Park in San Diego on July 6, 2013, scoring in a 5–2 victory. His league debut followed on July 19, 2013, in a 3–3 draw with Club Atlas, where he assisted on Darío Benedetto’s goal shortly after entering as a substitute. A few days later, he added his second professional goal in the CONCACAF Champions League against C.D. Victoria.
Over four seasons in Liga MX, Arriola became part of a wave of American-born players at Tijuana that also included Edgar Castillo, Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, and Greg Garza. He gained valuable experience against high-level competition in Mexico’s top flight, which prepared him for a move back to Major League Soccer.
D.C. United Era (2017–2021)
On August 9, 2017, Arriola signed with D.C. United for a club-record fee of $3 million plus allocation money, with his rights coming from the LA Galaxy. He debuted on August 13, 2017, in a 1–0 loss to Real Salt Lake and scored his first goal for the club in the season finale against the New York Red Bulls, the last match played at RFK Stadium.
His 2018 season was his breakout year in MLS. On July 14, 2018, he scored twice in a 3–1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in D.C. United’s inaugural match at Audi Field, finishing the year with 28 appearances, 7 goals, and 8 assists. Under head coach Ben Olsen, Arriola became more flexible tactically, splitting time between right midfield and right back.
A serious knee injury in February 2020, a partially torn ACL, kept him out of the entire MLS regular season. He returned on November 8, 2020, in a 2–3 loss to Montreal Impact that ended D.C. United’s playoff hopes. Shortly afterward, on July 27, 2020, the club and Arriola agreed to a multi-year extension through 2023 with an option for 2024.
Swansea City Loan (2021)
On February 1, 2021, Arriola moved on loan to Swansea City of the EFL Championship for the remainder of the 2020–21 season. He debuted on February 10, 2021, in a 1–3 loss to Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup. His loan ended on March 31, 2021, after a quadriceps injury sidelined him for four to six weeks.
FC Dallas Era (2022–2024)
On January 26, 2022, FC Dallas acquired Arriola from D.C. United in exchange for $1.5 million in General Allocation Money in 2022 and $500,000 in 2023, with D.C. United retaining a share of any future transfer outside of MLS. In Dallas, he continued to bring experience, leadership, and versatility to a young attacking group.
Seattle Sounders FC Era (2025–Present)
On January 12, 2025, Arriola moved to Seattle Sounders FC, joining one of MLS’s most established clubs. The move brought him back to the Pacific Northwest, close to the region where he grew up, and gave him a fresh platform heading into the 2025 MLS season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best listed as a winger, Arriola’s game is built on relentless work rate and tactical discipline. Coaches have used him on the right wing, as a right midfielder, and even as a right back, a flexibility that has extended his career across multiple leagues. His pressing, tracking, and willingness to sacrifice for the team are defining features of his style, and his international experience has helped him thrive in high-stakes matches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Arriola scored his first senior international goal on May 22, 2016, against Puerto Rico on his senior debut. He opened the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a goal against Guyana, the first competitive goal of the Gregg Berhalter era, and played a key role in the United States’ 5–1 win over Panama in 2021–22 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying that virtually clinched qualification for Qatar. He was a member of the Gold Cup-winning squads in 2017 and 2021, and reached the final again as runner-up in 2019.
Paul Arriola Career Wins
Arriola’s competitive trophy collection is anchored by two senior international titles with the United States, the 2017 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cups, along with a runner-up finish in 2019. He was also part of the United States U17 squad that won the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, even though an injury kept him off the field during the tournament itself.
International Highlights
Beyond his Gold Cup success, Arriola represented the United States at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, where he scored against the hosts in a 4–0 group-stage win, and the U-23 Olympic qualifiers against Colombia. Across youth and senior levels, his international career spans more than a decade of service to the U.S. program.
Other Wins and Performances
At club level, Arriola’s most notable achievements have been a club-record transfer to D.C. United in 2017, a memorable two-goal performance in the Audi Field opener, and a Loan spell at Swansea City in England’s EFL Championship. These moments reflect a career built on stepping into bigger stages and delivering important performances.
Paul Arriola Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Arriola was raised in Chula Vista, California, by his parents, Dawn and Art Arriola. In October 2018, his father died from a heart attack, an event that forced Arriola to fly home and miss two matches during a tight push for an MLS playoff spot. The loss deeply affected him, and he has spoken about the role his family has played throughout his career.
Personal Life
On January 6, 2023, Arriola married his longtime girlfriend, Akela Banuelos, in a ceremony in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The couple’s relationship has been a steady presence throughout his time in MLS, and the wedding marked a major personal milestone alongside his continued professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Arriola entered the 2025 MLS season with his new club, Seattle Sounders FC, after joining on January 12, 2025. The move gave him an opportunity to contribute on a contending roster and to settle into a familiar West Coast setting near his hometown of Chula Vista. Early in the season, he was listed as a right-sided option capable of playing winger, right midfielder, or right back.
Throughout his career, Arriola has shown the ability to adapt his game, contributing goals, assists, and defensive work at multiple clubs across Mexico, England, and the United States. As the 2025 season unfolds, his experience in high-pressure environments, including World Cup qualifiers and Gold Cup finals, is expected to be a key asset for the Sounders as they chase another deep postseason run.
