Miguel Berry Bio
Miguel Berry, born on 16 September 1997, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. Standing at 191 centimeters tall, he combines physical presence with sharp finishing instincts in the final third of the pitch.
After growing up in the United States, Berry developed his game through American youth and college systems before breaking into Major League Soccer through the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. He has since become a recognized journeyman striker across several clubs in North American professional soccer, building a reputation for opportunistic goals and a willingness to contribute in team-focused environments.
Early Life and Background
Miguel Berry was born in Barcelona, Spain, to American parents who moved the family back to the United States when he was eight years old. He grew up in Poway, California, a suburban community north of San Diego known for its strong youth athletics culture. Berry attended Poway High School, where he began to attract attention as a young striker with natural scoring instincts and a mature understanding of the game.
Alongside his high school career, Berry played club soccer with the Development Academy side San Diego Surf, continuing in that program until 2016. He had previously spent time with San Diego SC, giving him a broad base of competitive experiences within the Southern California youth landscape. These early years laid the groundwork for his transition into higher-level competition.
Path to Soccer
In 2016, Miguel Berry enrolled at the University of San Diego, where he joined the Toreros men’s soccer program. Over four collegiate seasons, he made 72 appearances, scored 38 goals, and recorded 16 assists, becoming one of the most productive attackers in program history. Berry was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team in his first year, earned All-WCC First Team and All-Far West Region Second Team recognition in his sophomore season, and repeated All-WCC First Team and USC All-Far West Region Second Team honors as a junior. In his senior year, he was named WCC Co-Player of the Year and was a semifinalist for the MAC National Player of the Year award.
While completing his college career, Berry also gained professional experience in USL League Two, playing for Seattle Sounders U-23 in 2017 and Orange County SC U-23 from 2018 through 2019. Those seasons offered valuable senior-level minutes and helped him prepare for the jump into Major League Soccer.
Miguel Berry Career
Early Career (2017-2019)
Miguel Berry began his senior career in the USL League Two, joining Seattle Sounders U-23 for the 2017 season. The stint provided a first taste of regular professional minutes and helped him adjust to the physical demands of adult competition.
He then moved to Orange County SC U-23, where he played from 2018 to 2019. Across his two seasons in the Orange County system, Berry refined his movement off the ball and his ability to score in tight spaces, setting the stage for his entry into the MLS draft process.
MLS Breakthrough with Columbus Crew (2020-2021)
On 9 January 2020, Miguel Berry was selected seventh overall in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew, officially joining the club on 27 February 2020. With limited first-team opportunities early in the season and the cancellation of the U.S. Open Cup limiting his path to minutes, the Crew loaned him to USL Championship side San Diego Loyal on 28 August 2020.
Berry made his San Diego Loyal debut the following day, starting in a 0-0 draw with Orange County SC. He played in all seven matches available to him during the loan, scoring three goals. Berry was part of the San Diego Loyal squad that forfeited and walked off the field during matches against Los Angeles Galaxy II and Phoenix Rising after unpunished racist and homophobic slurs were directed at teammates. Those decisions cost the team a place in the 2020 playoffs but drew widespread praise. Although Berry did not appear for the Crew during the 2020 league campaign, he was part of the squad that won the 2020 MLS Cup. On 14 December 2020, Columbus exercised the option to retain him for the 2021 season.
Berry rejoined San Diego Loyal on loan on 28 May 2021 but was recalled by Columbus in early July after starting striker Gyasi Zardes was called up to the Gold Cup. Back with the Crew, he made 18 appearances and scored 8 goals at a rate of roughly one goal every 105 minutes, showcasing the kind of finishing form that had marked his college career.
D.C. United and Atlanta United (2022-2023)
On 18 July 2022, Miguel Berry was traded to D.C. United for 225,000 dollars in General Allocation Money spread across two years, with an additional 100,000 dollars available if he met certain performance-based incentives. He spent one season in Washington before moving on to Atlanta United in 2023. Those two stops allowed Berry to experience contrasting tactical systems and reinforced his adaptability as a depth striker capable of stepping into different roles.
LA Galaxy Era (2024-Present)
On 16 January 2024, Miguel Berry signed with LA Galaxy on a two-year contract with a club option for 2026. His arrival brought veteran MLS experience and a proven goalscoring touch to the Galaxy striker group.
The move reunited Berry with Southern California, the region where he grew up and developed as a young player. He entered the LA Galaxy setup determined to carve out a consistent role within the team’s attacking rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Berry is a striker who thrives on positioning, timing, and an instinct for finding space inside the penalty area. He combines a tall frame with quick feet, allowing him to hold up play and bring teammates into the attack. His professional record shows a forward who can convert chances at a strong rate when given a consistent run of minutes, particularly in his productive 2021 stretch with Columbus Crew.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining chapters of Berry’s career came during his 2020 loan to San Diego Loyal, when he participated in the team’s widely recognized decisions to forfeit and walk off the field in response to racist and homophobic abuse directed at teammates. He was also part of the Columbus Crew squad that won the 2020 MLS Cup and produced a standout stretch of 8 goals in 18 appearances during the 2021 season.
Miguel Berry Career Wins
Miguel Berry’s verified team honours include the 2020 MLS Cup won as part of the Columbus Crew squad. Across his career, he has been recognized primarily for his scoring contributions rather than major individual awards, with his most celebrated stretch coming during his 18-appearance, 8-goal run with Columbus in 2021.
Club Honours
The centerpiece of Berry’s trophy case is the 2020 MLS Cup won with Columbus Crew, where he was part of the championship roster despite spending most of that season on loan at San Diego Loyal. He has continued his association with competitive squads through his move to LA Galaxy in 2024.
Miguel Berry Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Miguel Berry was born in Barcelona, Spain, to American parents who relocated the family to the United States when he was eight years old. His upbringing in Poway, California, and his pathway through Poway High School and the University of San Diego reflect a strong family emphasis on education and athletic development.
Personal Life
Berry grew up immersed in the Southern California soccer scene, playing for clubs such as San Diego SC and San Diego Surf before his college career. He holds dual ties to both Spain and the United States, having been born in Barcelona and raised near San Diego, and he continues to build his professional life in the region through his contract with LA Galaxy.
2025 Season Performance
Miguel Berry enters 2025 continuing under his two-year contract with LA Galaxy, which runs through the 2025 season with a club option for 2026. After settling into the Galaxy environment during his first year, he is positioned to compete for a more prominent role in the team’s attacking rotation.
Throughout the early 2025 campaign, Berry has continued to offer the Galaxy a tall, mobile striker capable of finishing chances in tight spaces. His familiarity with MLS systems, developed through stints with Columbus Crew, D.C. United, and Atlanta United, provides experience that complements the Galaxy’s broader attacking group.
With the regular season unfolding and the playoff picture taking shape, Berry’s ability to deliver timely goals and contribute to the team’s overall structure will be central to his outlook at LA Galaxy. A productive 2025 could strengthen his case for the club to exercise its 2026 option and extend his stay in Major League Soccer.