Oscar Verhoeven Bio
Oscar Anthony Verhoeven (born May 31, 2006) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for Major League Soccer club San Diego FC. Standing at 183 centimeters tall, he began his professional career as a teenager with the San Jose Earthquakes organization before moving on loan to the San Diego FC expansion side in 2025. A product of the American youth system, Verhoeven has represented the United States at the under-17 level in major international tournaments.
Verhoeven is recognized as one of the promising young fullbacks in Major League Soccer, having transitioned from the club’s developmental pathway into first-team minutes within his first two seasons. His career has included senior appearances in the U.S. Open Cup and a permanent move to a Western Conference side during his debut professional year.
Early Life and Background
Oscar Anthony Verhoeven was born on May 31, 2006, in Pleasant Hill, California, United States. Pleasant Hill, located in the San Francisco Bay Area’s Contra Costa County, provided a regional soccer environment that has historically produced professional players through its youth academies and club systems. Growing up in a region with deep ties to the San Jose Earthquakes’ developmental network offered Verhoeven an early entry into competitive youth soccer.
As an American-born player of his generation, Verhoeven progressed through the standard youth-development channels available in Northern California. His pathway eventually led him to the San Jose Earthquakes’ academy structure, where he was identified as a prospect capable of signing a professional contract at age sixteen. The combination of his local roots and the proximity of professional-level coaching helped shape his early development as a right-back.
Path to Soccer
Verhoeven’s progression toward professional soccer followed the Major League Soccer academy model, which increasingly prioritizes homegrown signings from regional youth systems. His work with the San Jose Earthquakes’ youth setup earned him a first professional agreement at a young age, signaling that the organization viewed him as part of its long-term plans on the right side of defense.
The transition to senior soccer came through The Town FC, the Earthquakes’ reserve side competing in MLS NEXT Pro. That platform allowed Verhoeven to gain minutes against professional-level opposition while training daily within a Major League Soccer environment. His form and development within The Town FC ranks convinced the parent club to integrate him into senior matchday squads in cup competition.
Oscar Verhoeven Career
Early Career (2023–2024)
On May 17, 2023, Verhoeven signed a professional contract with the San Jose Earthquakes, with terms running through 2025 and an option to extend through 2027. He began his senior career with the club’s reserve team, The Town FC, competing in the MLS NEXT Pro league during the 2023 season. That assignment gave him regular minutes at the professional level and provided a developmental bridge between academy soccer and Major League Soccer first-team football.
Verhoeven made his senior and professional debut for the San Jose Earthquakes on May 21, 2024, appearing in a U.S. Open Cup match that ended in a 4–3 defeat to Sacramento Republic FC. The cup appearance marked his first official minutes for the parent club and confirmed his status as a first-team squad member following two seasons in the reserve ranks.
San Diego FC Era (2025–Present)
On April 21, 2025, Verhoeven was loaned to San Diego FC, the Major League Soccer expansion club, for the remainder of the 2025 season. The loan agreement included an exchange of 100,000 dollars in general allocation money between the two clubs. The move offered the young right-back an opportunity to compete for first-team minutes with a new franchise building its inaugural roster.
On November 19, 2025, San Diego FC exercised its option to sign Verhoeven on a permanent basis, completing the transfer in exchange for 350,000 dollars in additional general allocation money. The decision reflected the club’s confidence in his development and his fit within its long-term defensive structure. The arrangement converted a temporary loan into a long-term acquisition during the team’s first season in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
Verhoeven’s senior debut in the U.S. Open Cup against Sacramento Republic FC on May 21, 2024, stands as his first appearance in official first-team competition. His subsequent permanent transfer to San Diego FC in November 2025, completed in his debut professional season, marks one of the earliest permanent moves for a player of his age within the Major League Soccer ecosystem.
Oscar Verhoeven International Career
Verhoeven is a youth international for the United States, having represented the country at the under-17 level. He was a member of the United States U-17 squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, reaching the final of the confederation’s premier youth tournament for his age group.
Following the continental championship, Verhoeven was also selected for the United States squad at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, giving him experience on the global stage against the leading youth nations. Participation in both major U-17 events during the 2023 calendar year established him as a recognized prospect within the U.S. Soccer development pathway.
Oscar Verhoeven Career Stats
Other Wins & Performances
Verhoeven’s most significant individual accomplishment at international level came with the United States U-17 team’s runner-up finish at the 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. He followed that performance with selection to the United States squad for the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, adding a World Cup appearance to his early résumé.
Oscar Verhoeven Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Oscar Verhoeven’s family background, including the identities of his parents, has not been confirmed in verified sources. He is an American-born player from Pleasant Hill, California, and was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where regional youth soccer systems supported his development.
Personal Life
Verhoeven is focused on his professional soccer career at a young age, having signed his first professional contract at sixteen and completed a permanent transfer at nineteen. Further verified personal-life details have not been publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
Verhoeven’s 2025 season began with the San Jose Earthquakes organization before transitioning to San Diego FC on loan in April. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for first-team minutes with a Western Conference side during its debut Major League Soccer campaign. His selection for a permanent transfer in November 2025, valued at 350,000 dollars in general allocation money, indicated a successful integration into the expansion side’s plans.
Across the season, Verhoeven contributed as a right-back option for San Diego FC, adding depth to a defensive unit that was being constructed for the club’s inaugural year. The decision to convert the loan into a permanent move late in the season reflected both his on-field performances and his projected role within the team’s long-term roster. With the permanent transfer now complete, his 2026 outlook centers on securing a consistent starting position with the franchise.