Favian Loyola Bio
Favian Antonio Loyola, born on 18 May 2005, is an American-born professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He currently represents Major League Soccer club Orlando City, having progressed through the club’s youth system before breaking into the senior side. Loyola is a dual national, having represented the United States at youth level before switching his international allegiance to Chile at the under-20 level.
Standing 178 centimeters tall, Loyola has emerged as one of the more talked-about young midfielders in American soccer, drawing attention for his performances in MLS NEXT Pro and his subsequent transition to MLS competition with Orlando City.
Early Life and Background
Favian Antonio Loyola was born on 18 May 2005 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, United States, where his family was stationed at the time. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Florida, where he was raised and where his pathway into professional football would eventually take shape. The early years in Florida exposed Loyola to a competitive youth soccer environment that helped him develop his technical abilities as a midfielder.
He grew up in a household with a strong footballing heritage. Loyola was born to a Chilean father and an Italian mother, giving him a multicultural background that would later influence his international career choices. He also has an older brother, Donovan, who is also a soccer player and most recently featured for the Chilean club Universidad Católica. This family connection to the game helped nurture Loyola’s early interest and commitment to football.
Path to Soccer
Loyola’s journey toward professional soccer began in earnest when he joined the Orlando City SC academy in Florida. By 2021, his development within the club’s youth structure had progressed significantly, and he became a member of the under-17 academy team coached by Javi Carrillo. That squad went on to win the MLS NEXT U17 National Championship title, marking Loyola’s first notable achievement at a national level and signaling his potential as a future professional.
Following the under-17 championship, Loyola continued with the Orlando City academy into the beginning of the 2022 season. His performances in the youth ranks earned him a promotion to Orlando City B, the club’s professional development side, for the inaugural 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season. This elevation represented a major milestone in his young career and provided the platform from which he would eventually secure a place in the senior team.
Favian Loyola Career
Early Career (2022)
Loyola made his professional debut on 19 June 2022, entering the match as a 69th-minute substitute in a 6–1 defeat to Columbus Crew 2. Less than a month later, on 17 July 2022, he scored his first professional goals, netting a brace in a 4–3 victory over Chicago Fire FC II. Across the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season, Loyola recorded six goals in 11 appearances, an impressive return for a young midfielder adjusting to the professional game.
His performances during the 2022 campaign also earned him individual recognition beyond league play. Loyola was named MVP at the 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game, further cementing his reputation as one of the standout young talents in the Orlando City system. These early achievements set the stage for his transition to Major League Soccer.
Orlando City Breakthrough (2023)
On 2 December 2022, Loyola signed a three-year MLS homegrown contract with the Orlando City first team ahead of the 2023 season, marking the formal beginning of his top-flight career. He had to wait until 1 July 2023 for his senior debut, when he came on as a substitute for Facundo Torres in a 3–1 victory over Chicago Fire. The appearance was a milestone moment, rewarding his consistent progression through the club’s developmental pathway.
The move from MLS NEXT Pro to MLS competition represented a significant step up in level, and Loyola used his first-team opportunities to continue his development alongside experienced professionals. His homegrown status reflected Orlando City’s belief in his long-term potential as a midfield contributor for the senior side.
Orlando City Era (2023–2025)
Throughout his time with the Orlando City first team, Loyola has been a member of the senior squad competing in Major League Soccer. As a homegrown midfielder, he has trained and played within a roster that includes established international players, providing him with valuable experience at the highest domestic level in the United States.
On 17 November 2025, the Orlando City organization announced that they would allow Loyola’s contract to expire and that they were not interested in pursuing a new contract with the midfielder. This decision marked the end of his time with the club that developed him from the academy ranks through to the senior team.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Loyola’s young career are his 2021 MLS NEXT U17 National Championship title with Orlando City’s academy and his MVP award at the 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game. Internationally, he won the Slovenia Nations Cup with the United States under-19 squad in 2022, starting in the squad that defeated Croatia 2–1 to claim the tournament. He later marked his debut for Chile’s under-20 team in June 2024 by scoring in a 2–2 draw against Australia.
Favian Loyola Career Wins
Favian Loyola’s verified career highlights include the 2021 MLS NEXT U17 National Championship won with Orlando City’s academy and the Slovenia Nations Cup, secured with the United States under-19 team in 2022. At club level, his documented results are concentrated in the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season with Orlando City B, where he recorded six goals across 11 appearances.
Orlando City B Highlights
Loyola’s most prominent season at the developmental level came in 2022, when he finished the MLS NEXT Pro campaign with six goals in 11 appearances for Orlando City B. His first goals came on 17 July 2022, a brace in a 4–3 victory over Chicago Fire FC II, providing an early indication of his attacking instincts as a midfielder.
International Highlights
At international level, Loyola was part of the United States under-19 squad that won the 2022 Slovenia Nations Cup, defeating Croatia 2–1 in the decisive match. He later switched his allegiance to Chile and marked his debut for the under-20 team on 8 June 2024 by scoring in a 2–2 draw against Australia.
Favian Loyola Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Favian Antonio Loyola was raised in a multicultural household, born to a Chilean father and an Italian mother. This dual heritage has shaped his international career path, allowing him eligibility for multiple national teams. His older brother, Donovan Loyola, is also a professional soccer player who has played in Chile.
Personal Life
Loyola’s older brother, Donovan, remains active in professional soccer and has most recently been associated with the Chilean club Universidad Católica. The brothers share a connection to the sport that began in their family environment and has carried both into professional careers. Public information regarding Loyola’s personal relationships outside of his immediate family is limited.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked the conclusion of Favian Loyola’s time as an Orlando City senior squad member. Throughout the campaign, he remained part of the first-team roster as a homegrown midfielder competing in Major League Soccer fixtures. His presence within the squad reflected his continued development as a young professional working alongside more experienced teammates.
On 17 November 2025, Orlando City publicly announced that the club would allow Loyola’s contract to expire and would not pursue a new deal with the midfielder. The decision brought an end to his association with the Orlando City organization, where he had progressed from the academy through Orlando City B and into the MLS first team.
With his departure from Orlando City confirmed at the end of the 2025 season, Loyola’s next career move was not publicly detailed in available sources. His international future, given his switch to represent Chile at under-20 level in 2024, remained an open question heading into the following year.