Adrián Zendejas Bio
Adrián Zendejas Rodríguez (born August 30, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Vancouver Whitecaps FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Standing 195 cm tall, he is recognized for his shot-stopping consistency and his calm presence in the penalty area. Zendejas has competed in the United Soccer League, MLS, the USL Championship, and abroad in Sweden, building a journeyman résumé that has taken him from a youth prospect in Southern California to a senior professional in North America’s top flight.
Born in Chula Vista, California, Zendejas is eligible to represent both the United States and Mexico at the international level, and he has publicly expressed an interest in playing for the U.S. national team. After more than eight seasons as a professional, he signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps in February 2025, beginning a new chapter with the Canadian MLS club.
Early Life and Background
Adrián Zendejas Rodríguez was born on August 30, 1995, in Chula Vista, California, a city just south of San Diego near the United States–Mexico border. Growing up in a region with deep soccer roots, he was exposed to the sport at a young age through community and club programs. The border-area environment shaped his early appreciation for the game and gave him access to competitive youth soccer in Southern California.
He developed his goalkeeping skills with Nomads SC and the San Diego Surf of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, two well-known youth development environments. He also played for Hilltop High School during his teenage years, balancing school soccer with academy competition. These formative experiences allowed him to progress through a competitive youth pipeline before attracting attention from professional clubs.
Path to Soccer
Zendejas’s path toward a professional career advanced when he joined the under-20 setup of Liga MX side Tijuana, offering him his first experience inside a top Mexican first-division system. Training with a club renowned for producing goalkeepers helped him refine his technique, positioning, and handling under pressure. The experience in Tijuana provided a bridge between youth soccer in the United States and the demands of senior professional football.
Returning to the United States, Zendejas signed with the United Soccer League side Swope Park Rangers in 2016, marking his official entry into the professional ranks. The opportunity to start regularly in a senior environment allowed him to demonstrate the consistency he had been building through his youth career.
Adrián Zendejas Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
On June 30, 2016, Adrián Zendejas signed with USL side Swope Park Rangers and immediately established himself as one of the league’s most reliable goalkeepers. He went unbeaten across his first eight starts and posted a 0.36 goals-against average along with a 0.87 save percentage, both of which ranked best in the USL among goalkeepers with at least eight appearances. His strong form helped Swope Park reach the USL Cup Final, giving him early exposure to championship-level soccer.
In December 2016, Zendejas signed an MLS contract with Sporting Kansas City, and the following season he served as the backup to goalkeeper Tim Melia while also returning to Swope Park on loan. Across 25 USL appearances in 2017, he recorded 10 shutouts and a 0.91 goals-against average, re-establishing himself as one of the league’s top goalkeepers. In the USL Cup Playoffs against OKC Energy, he made two regulation saves, one save in extra time, and four saves in a penalty shootout, then converted the game-winning penalty kick to send Swope Park back to the USL Cup Final. In 2018, he split time between Swope Park on loan and Sporting Kansas City in MLS, making his senior debut on June 6, 2018, with a 2–0 U.S. Open Cup win over Real Salt Lake and a 3–2 victory over FC Dallas in the Round of 16.
Sporting Kansas City and Nashville SC Era (2019–2020)
On November 19, 2019, Zendejas was traded to Nashville SC in exchange for $125,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $50,000 in General Allocation Money, joining the expansion club ahead of its first MLS season. The trade represented an opportunity for a fresh start with a new organization, and it placed him back into a regular professional environment in MLS.
Just under a year later, on September 18, 2020, Zendejas was traded again, this time to Minnesota United in exchange for a fourth-round 2021 MLS SuperDraft pick and up to $100,000 in General Allocation Money if he met certain performance-based metrics. The two trades within a short window reflected the value placed on his experience and consistency between the posts.
Minnesota United, Charlotte FC, and Miami FC (2021–2023)
On May 21, 2021, Minnesota United loaned Zendejas to USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive, giving him a chance to maintain his match sharpness. The loan allowed him to return to a starting role in a competitive division after limited minutes in Minnesota.
On January 16, 2022, Zendejas joined Charlotte FC as a free agent ahead of the club’s inaugural MLS season, becoming part of an expansion roster looking to establish its identity. The following year, on January 17, 2023, he was loaned to USL Championship side Miami FC, where he continued to gain senior minutes. He was released by Charlotte following the 2023 season, closing his chapter with the expansion club.
Skövde AIK and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2024–2025)
In March 2024, Zendejas moved abroad to join Swedish Superettan club Skövde AIK on a contract through the end of the 2024 season, with an option for an extension. The move to Europe gave him the chance to experience a different football culture while continuing to compete at a high level.
On February 14, 2025, Zendejas signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS on a contract for the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026. The signing returned him to Major League Soccer and opened a new chapter in his career with the Canadian club.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the signature moments of Zendejas’s career came during the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs, when he converted the game-winning penalty kick against OKC Energy to send Swope Park to the USL Cup Final. His 2016 debut season, in which he went unbeaten in his first eight starts, also stands out as a defining stretch in his early professional career.
Adrián Zendejas Family
Personal Life
Zendejas was born in Chula Vista, California, and grew up in the San Diego area of Southern California. Through parentage, he is eligible to represent Mexico, and he is also eligible to play for the United States through his birth and upbringing. He has expressed an interest in representing the United States internationally.
2025 Season Performance
Adrián Zendejas joined the Vancouver Whitecaps in February 2025, signing a contract for the 2025 MLS season with a club option for 2026. The move gave the veteran goalkeeper a fresh opportunity in a competitive Western Conference environment, where he is expected to provide depth and experience between the posts.
His arrival adds a seasoned presence to the Vancouver goalkeeping group, and his track record of consistency at the USL and MLS levels positions him as a reliable option for the club. The 2025 campaign represents a continuation of his long professional journey, which has included stops in the United States, Mexico’s youth system, and Sweden.