Aaron Herrera Bio
Aaron Joseph Herrera (born 6 June 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. Born in the United States, he represents the Guatemala national team at the international level. Herrera previously played for FC Tucson, Real Salt Lake, and CF Montréal, building a reputation as a dependable, attack-minded full back in Major League Soccer. He gained wider recognition after playing a central role in Guatemala’s run to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals.
Early Life and Background
Aaron Joseph Herrera was born on 6 June 1997 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the United States. He was raised by his Guatemalan father, Diego Herrera, and his American mother, Donni Herrera, giving him a bicultural upbringing that would later shape his international career. Growing up in a soccer-friendly region of the Southwest, Herrera developed his game in local youth setups before committing to a college pathway.
Herrera spent three years playing college soccer at the University of New Mexico between 2015 and 2017. Across 54 appearances for the Lobos, he scored 20 goals and recorded 8 assists, an exceptional attacking return for a defender. His combination of speed, crossing ability, and tactical discipline at the collegiate level helped position him as one of the top young full backs in the region, and it set the stage for his transition into the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Soccer
Herrera’s first step into the professional environment came in 2016, when he joined FC Tucson of the Premier Development League. He spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons developing with the Arizona-based side, gaining valuable minutes in a competitive semi-professional setting while still finishing his college career. Those seasons allowed him to refine his defensive responsibilities and attacking overlaps in preparation for a higher level of competition.
In December 2017, after his third season at the University of New Mexico, Herrera signed a Homegrown Player contract with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. The move formally launched his MLS career and confirmed the trajectory he had been building since his teenage years in Las Cruces. He has remained in top-flight North American soccer ever since, progressing through multiple clubs and earning international recognition along the way.
Aaron Herrera Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Herrera’s professional journey began with FC Tucson in the Premier Development League, where he featured across the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Operating primarily as a wide defender, he balanced his senior-level appearances with his ongoing college schedule at the University of New Mexico. The experience sharpened his one-on-one defending and his understanding of overlapping runs, traits that would become trademarks of his game.
By the end of his junior year with the Lobos, Herrera had amassed 20 goals and 8 assists in 54 appearances, productivity that made him an attractive prospect for MLS clubs. On 15 December 2017, Real Salt Lake signed him as a Homegrown Player, marking his official entry into Major League Soccer. The contract was a strong signal of the club’s belief in his long-term potential as a starting-caliber defender.
Real Salt Lake Era (2018–2022)
Herrera established himself as a regular contributor at Real Salt Lake, transitioning from promising prospect to a reliable presence along the back line. He featured consistently across multiple MLS seasons in Utah, contributing assists, defensive stability, and positional versatility from the full back role. His development with Real Salt Lake turned him into a player capable of starting at the international level.
On 21 December 2022, Real Salt Lake traded Herrera to CF Montréal in exchange for $500,000 in General Allocation Money, a 2023 international roster spot, Montréal’s 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, and a sell-on fee. The move ended a successful five-year run in Utah and opened a new chapter in his career in Canada.
CF Montréal Era (2022–2023)
Herrera joined CF Montréal ahead of the 2023 MLS season and integrated into the squad as a regular starter. His one-club season in Canada was brief but productive, as he continued to demonstrate the qualities that had made him a key piece for Real Salt Lake. The trade to Montréal also kept him firmly on the radar of several clubs looking to bolster their defensive lines ahead of the following transfer window.
D.C. United Era (2023–Present)
On 12 December 2023, D.C. United acquired Herrera from CF Montréal in exchange for Brazilian defender Ruan and $500,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money. The deal brought a veteran full back with both MLS and international experience to the Washington, D.C., roster. During his maiden season with the club, Herrera was named to the 2024 MLS All-Star Team, an honor that underscored his impact and consistency in his first year in the capital.
Driving Style and Strengths
Herrera is widely regarded as an attack-minded full back whose strengths lie in his overlapping runs, crossing quality, and stamina to track back defensively. He is comfortable operating on either flank, and his college-era scoring record reflects a comfort level getting into the final third. His combination of physical conditioning, positional awareness, and willingness to support attacks has made him a dependable two-way contributor at the MLS level.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Herrera’s career came in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals against Canada, where he completed a critical goal-line clearance and converted his penalty in the ensuing shootout against goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. The performance helped Guatemala advance to the Gold Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1996, securing his place in the national team’s modern history.
Aaron Herrera Career Wins
Aaron Herrera has built a résumé defined less by individual trophies and more by durable, high-level contributions at club and international level. His primary career honors include a CONCACAF U-20 Championship earned with the United States youth setup in 2017, and selection to the 2024 MLS All-Star Team during his first season with D.C. United. Additional club and international achievements continue to accumulate as he progresses through his prime years as a defender.
International and Club Highlights
Herrera’s 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship title with the United States U-20s marked his earliest international honor and foreshadowed his senior-level future. After representing the U.S. youth teams, he earned a single senior cap for the United States in January 2021 in a 7–0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, and was later named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021. In June 2023, he was named to Guatemala’s preliminary squad ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, and he made his Guatemala debut on 15 June 2023 in a friendly match against Costa Rica.
Aaron Herrera Family
Family Background and Heritage
Aaron Joseph Herrera was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to a Guatemalan father, Diego Herrera, and an American mother, Donni Herrera. His dual heritage ultimately influenced his international career, leading him to switch national team allegiance from the United States to Guatemala. The strong family ties to Guatemala helped shape his cultural identity and motivated his commitment to represent the country of his father’s birth at the senior level.
Personal Life
Herrera maintains a public presence on social media, where fans can follow his professional updates and off-field interests. His family remains closely connected to his soccer journey, with his parents often credited for supporting his development from his earliest youth years in New Mexico through his progression into Major League Soccer and international football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been one of the most significant of Aaron Herrera’s career, highlighted by his central role in Guatemala’s run to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finals. His clutch performances in the knockout rounds, including a decisive goal-line clearance and a successful penalty kick against Canada in the quarter-finals, established him as a leader within the national team setup. The achievement also marked Guatemala’s first appearance in the Gold Cup semi-finals since 1996, underscoring the magnitude of his contribution.
At club level with D.C. United, Herrera continues to build on the momentum of his 2024 MLS All-Star selection, providing experience and consistency along the back line. His partnership with the squad’s defensive unit has remained a stabilizing presence, and his attacking output from the full back position has continued to add a creative dimension to the team’s play. With a Gold Cup semi-final behind him and the MLS season progressing, his form entering the back half of 2025 has positioned him as a key figure for both club and country.