Diego Fagundez Bio
Diego Santiago Fagúndez Pepe (born February 14, 1995) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Fagúndez moved with his family to Leominster, Massachusetts when he was five years old. He began his career playing for Leominster Youth Soccer and progressed through various youth teams before joining the New England Revolution academy and making his professional debut in 2011. After long stints with the Revolution and Austin FC, he joined the LA Galaxy in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Diego Santiago Fagúndez Pepe was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on February 14, 1995. When he was five years old, his family relocated to Leominster, Massachusetts, where he was first introduced to organized soccer. He began playing for Leominster Youth Soccer, the local club that gave him his earliest competitive experience on the pitch.
As he grew as a young player, Fagúndez moved on to play for FC United (Massachusetts) and FC Greater Boston Bolts, two prominent New England youth setups. He was a State Cup finalist with FC United in 2005 and a winner in 2006, then captured the State Cup with FC Greater Boston Bolts in 2008 and 2009. He also represented the Massachusetts Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 2006 to 2009, serving as captain in his final two years and earning a place on the 2007–2008 Adidas Interregional All-Star team as a Region I ODP member.
His father, Washington Fagúndez, was a professional footballer in Uruguay who played as a goalkeeper for Central Español in the 1990s. Diego is also the godson of former Uruguayan international Diego Dorta, a 1995 Copa América winner, after whom he was named.
Path to Soccer
In 2009, Fagúndez joined the New England Revolution academy, where his development accelerated. In his debut season with the club, he led the Revolution U-16 squad to a 14–7–8 record and first place in the Northeast Division of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, scoring 20 goals in 30 appearances and tying Felix Debona for the team lead in goals. On March 10, 2011, Top Drawer Soccer named him the number one ranked player nationally in the class of 2013.
On November 15, 2010, the Revolution signed Fagúndez to a professional contract, making him the first homegrown player the club had signed from its youth academy. He continued to train with the academy side while appearing with the senior team, and his path from youth standout to MLS professional was officially complete.
Diego Fagundez Career
Early Career (2011–2012)
Fagúndez made his full professional debut on April 26, 2011, in a 3–2 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory over D.C. United. He made his MLS league debut on August 6, 2011, as a substitute against Chivas USA, drawing a penalty that was converted by Shalrie Joseph and scoring his first goal for New England in the same match.
He made his debut for the Uruguay U-20 team in October 2012, entering as a substitute against Peru and appearing in a second match that month. In August 2014 he was called up again for Uruguay U-20 duty, playing in two games against Peru, and in January 2015 he featured in Uruguay’s 1–0 victory over Colombia at the South American Youth Championship.
New England Revolution Breakthrough (2011–2020)
Fagúndez became a regular starter for the New England Revolution in 2013, scoring 13 goals and adding 7 assists in a breakout season that earned him MLS Player of the Week honors in week 14. He was listed at number 5 on MLS’s annual “24 under 24” list of best young players for 2013, and was featured in an episode of the documentary series MLS 36 in August of that year. He obtained a U.S. green card in October 2013, qualifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.
During the 2015 season, Fagúndez became the youngest player in MLS history to reach 100 appearances for a single club, and Italian Serie A sides Atalanta B.C. and ACF Fiorentina reportedly declined to meet the Revolution’s $4 million asking price. He was named the Midnight Riders Man of the Year at the conclusion of the 2017 MLS season. On October 28, 2018, he scored his 50th career MLS goal against the Montreal Impact, becoming the youngest player in league history to reach that mark.
He made his 244th appearance for the Revolution in the 2020 season opener against the Chicago Fire, tying Jay Heaps for fourth most appearances in franchise history, and went into the 2020 finale one appearance shy of breaking Shalrie Joseph’s all-time record. On December 8, 2020, the Revolution announced that Fagúndez was out of contract, and he posted a farewell statement on his personal Instagram account, ending a decade-long association with the club.
Austin FC Era (2021–2023)
On January 5, 2021, Fagúndez signed a one-year deal with Austin FC, then a brand-new expansion franchise. On April 24, 2021, he made his first start for the club and scored the first goal in franchise history in a 3–1 win over the Colorado Rapids. He scored the game winner the following week in a 1–0 victory over Minnesota United, was named Man of the Match in Austin’s first-ever home match, a 0–0 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes, and quickly became a fan favorite.
Fagúndez scored his first goal of the 2022 season as a substitute to equalize in a 1–1 draw with Seattle Sounders FC, and on April 20, 2022, he netted Austin’s first-ever goal in national competition play, a U.S. Open Cup match against San Antonio FC. Three days later he provided two second-half assists and the game-winning goal in a 3–2 comeback win at D.C. United. In February 2023, he signed a new three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year, having finished 2022 as the club’s all-time leader in assists with 20. After a difficult start to the 2023 season, head coach Josh Wolff publicly criticized him for not living up to the new contract.
LA Galaxy Era (2023–Present)
On August 1, 2023, Fagúndez was traded to the LA Galaxy in exchange for Memo Rodríguez, $300,000 in General Allocation Money, and up to $600,000 in additional General Allocation Money. The move drew criticism from Austin supporters as a desperate and tone-deaf decision. He scored his first Galaxy goal, an 82nd-minute game winner, on September 21, 2023, in a 4–3 victory over Minnesota United.
On April 13, 2024, Fagúndez scored his first goal of the 2024 season and became only the 10th player in MLS history to record at least 70 goals and 70 assists in regular-season play, while also tying Bobby Boswell for 20th all-time in regular-season games played with 366. He made his 400th career MLS appearance across regular season and playoffs on October 26, 2024, in the Galaxy’s 5–0 playoff victory over the Colorado Rapids.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fagúndez scored the first goal in Austin FC history in 2021 and later became the 10th player in MLS history to record 70 goals and 70 assists in regular-season play. He is also the youngest player in MLS history to reach 100 appearances for a single club and the youngest to score 50 career MLS goals.
Diego Fagundez Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Diego’s father, Washington Fagúndez, was a professional footballer in Uruguay who played as a goalkeeper for Central Español in the 1990s. His father has also worked as his agent at various points in his career, including posting on social media about Diego’s possible final match for the Revolution in 2018.
Personal Life
Diego is the godson of former Uruguayan international Diego Dorta, a 1995 Copa América winner, after whom he was named. He received his U.S. green card in October 2013, qualifying him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes, and on March 13, 2024, he announced on social media that he had become a U.S. citizen.
2025 Season Performance
Diego Fagúndez entered the 2025 MLS season in the second full year of his three-year contract with the LA Galaxy, having reached 400 career MLS appearances in the 2024 playoffs. His 70-goal, 70-assist regular-season milestone, achieved in April 2024, placed him among an exclusive group of ten players in league history and underlined his continued productivity as an attacking midfielder.
Coming off criticism from Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff in early 2023 and a strong finish to his debut Galaxy campaign, Fagúndez looked to build on his late-2023 form, including the game-winning goal against Minnesota United. With the Galaxy pushing for a return to the MLS Cup playoffs, his experience and link-up play were expected to be central to the team’s attacking structure.
Entering the 2025 campaign, Fagúndez remained a versatile veteran presence in midfield, capable of contributing goals and assists while mentoring younger Galaxy attackers. His pursuit of further historical milestones, including additional goals and appearances, will be a storyline to follow throughout the season.