Luca de la Torre Bio
Lucas Daniel de la Torre (born May 23, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for La Liga side Celta de Vigo and the United States national team. Born and raised in San Diego, California, he began his professional career with Fulham in the EFL Championship before spells in the Netherlands and Spain established him as a reliable central option. He has been a full international for the United States since 2018 and represented his country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Across club and country, de la Torre has built a reputation for composed passing, tactical discipline, and the ability to dictate tempo from midfield. His path from Southern California youth soccer to La Liga and World Cup duty traces a steady rise through competitive European leagues.
Early Life and Background
Lucas Daniel de la Torre was born on May 23, 1998, in San Diego, California. He grew up in the city and developed his early game in the Southern California youth system, playing for Nomads and San Diego Surf, two well-known development clubs in the region. Those environments gave him a foundation in possession-based play and quick transitions, traits that have remained central to his style.
Both of his parents are scientists working at research institutes in the San Diego area. His father is Spanish, and that background allowed de la Torre to obtain a Spanish passport and leave the United States at 15 years old to pursue opportunities abroad. The family emphasis on education and discipline shaped his approach to a professional career in football.
Standing 178 cm tall, de la Torre developed into a technically sharp midfielder whose comfort on the ball stood out during his teenage years. His move to England at 15 set the stage for his professional pathway, even though he did not learn conversational Spanish until he later joined Celta de Vigo.
Path to Soccer
De la Torre’s path to professional soccer began in the San Diego youth system before he crossed the Atlantic in 2013 to join Fulham’s academy in England. The step into English football demanded an early adjustment to a faster, more physical environment, and he worked his way up through the club’s development ranks over the following years.
He was part of the United States under-17 team for the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, gaining tournament experience against international opposition. He then featured for the United States under-20 side that won the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, scoring the game-winner in a 4–1 group stage win against Haiti and converting a penalty in the shootout win over Honduras in the final. At the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he reached the quarterfinals and contributed a goal against Ecuador plus assists in wins over Senegal and New Zealand.
His progress in Fulham’s academy, combined with his performances for U.S. youth teams, positioned him for a senior debut in 2016 and a senior international debut in 2018.
Luca de la Torre Career
Early Career (2016–2020)
De la Torre made his Fulham debut on August 9, 2016, in the EFL Cup first round against Leyton Orient, starting the match and playing 88 minutes in a 3–2 win at Brisbane Road. His first league appearance followed on October 28, 2017, when he came on as a late substitute in a 1–1 Championship draw against Bolton Wanderers at Craven Cottage. Those early senior minutes offered him a first taste of English professional football.
He scored his only Fulham goal in an EFL Cup tie against Millwall on September 25, 2018. Across his time in west London, he continued to balance academy development with senior outings, building the physical and tactical base that prepared him for a move to a first-division European league.
Fulham and Heracles Almelo Breakthrough (2016–2022)
On August 6, 2020, de la Torre signed a two-year deal with Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo, beginning his chapter in Dutch top-flight football. He made an immediate impact, providing an assist in his Eredivisie debut on September 13, 2020, during a 2–0 win over ADO Den Haag. He scored his first Eredivisie goal on March 7, 2021, a late winner in a 2–1 home victory over PEC Zwolle, and was named to the Eredivisie Team of the Month for March 2021 as a result. He earned the same honor again for January 2022, cementing his status as one of the league’s most consistent midfielders that season.
At Heracles, de la Torre grew into a regular starter, combining box-to-box work with a measured passing range. His form in the Eredivisie drew attention from clubs in larger leagues and set the stage for his next move.
Celta de Vigo Era (2022–Present)
On July 7, 2022, de la Torre signed a four-year deal with La Liga club Celta de Vigo, becoming only the second American to play for the club. He debuted on August 20, 2022, in a 4–1 home loss to Real Madrid, coming on for the final minutes in place of Renato Tapia. He initially made only brief substitute appearances under manager Eduardo Coudet, but his role expanded after Carlos Carvalhal took charge of the team.
On December 22, 2022, he scored his first Celta goal within ten minutes of coming off the bench in a 3–0 Copa del Rey win over Gernika. He made his first start in the next round on January 3, 2023, although Celta fell 3–1 in extra time at Espanyol. He netted his first La Liga goal against Osasuna on February 4, 2024, scoring one minute after providing an assist in the same match, a sequence that underlined his growing influence in the Spanish top flight.
On January 21, 2025, de la Torre signed with San Diego FC through the 2025 MLS season, on loan from Celta de Vigo with an option to purchase. The move brought the Southern California native back to his hometown as Celta retained his registration.
Driving Style and Strengths
De la Torre is a press-resistant central midfielder whose strengths lie in short and mid-range passing, smart positional rotation, and the ability to link defense with attack. He is comfortable receiving under pressure, recycling possession, and timing late runs into the box, and his set-piece delivery has been a useful asset for both club and country.
Notable Events and Milestones
His senior international debut came on June 2, 2018, in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland, and he made his first World Cup qualifying start on February 2, 2022, in a 3–0 win over Honduras. He was selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup squad, recovered from a muscular injury in time for Qatar, and later scored his first senior international goal on September 7, 2024, in a 1–2 friendly loss to Canada.
Luca de la Torre Career Wins
De la Torre has assembled a balanced trophy résumé across age-group and senior international football, with consistent individual recognition in European league play. His club career is still developing, and his biggest senior honors to date have come while representing the United States.
International Highlights
De la Torre won the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with the United States, scoring a key goal against Haiti and converting in the final penalty shootout against Honduras. With the senior team, he won the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League and finished as runner-up at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was also part of the U.S. squad that reached the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinals.
Other Wins & Performances
In the Eredivisie, he was named to the Team of the Month for March 2021 and again for January 2022, recognition that reflected his regular contributions at Heracles Almelo. At Celta de Vigo, he recorded his first La Liga goal against Osasuna in February 2024 and was a key contributor during the 2022 Copa del Rey run.
Luca de la Torre Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
De la Torre comes from an academic household. Both of his parents are scientists employed at research institutes in the San Diego area, and their emphasis on education has shaped his disciplined approach to professional sport. His father is Spanish, a heritage that gave him eligibility for a Spanish passport and the freedom to move to Europe at age 15.
Personal Life
Nicknamed “El Pulpeto” by Celta Vigo supporters, de la Torre has a superstition of eating Galician octopus, or pulpo, after every Celta victory, a habit that has become part of his public connection to the club and to Galicia. He did not learn Spanish until he arrived at Celta Vigo in 2022, but he is now comfortable giving interviews and communicating with teammates in the language.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, de la Torre’s season has been split between Celta de Vigo and a loan move to Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC, signed on January 21, 2025, through the 2025 MLS campaign. The loan carries an option to purchase, and the move returned the midfielder to his hometown while keeping his long-term registration in La Liga.
With the U.S. national team, he finished as runner-up at the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, adding another senior final to his résumé. His experience across La Liga, the Eredivisie, and the EFL Championship gives him a versatile profile suited to MLS play.
Looking ahead, the 2025 MLS season represents an opportunity for de la Torre to anchor San Diego FC’s midfield in their inaugural campaign while maintaining a pathway back to Celta. His combination of European pedigree, international experience, and a strong 2025 Gold Cup run positions him as a central figure in the new franchise’s identity.