Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: 06/19/2005
Nationality: United States
Height:
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Pronunciation: Diego Ah-BAR-kah
BIOGRAPHY
Abarca made history back in October 2022 as one of the first – and currently youngest – homegrown academy products to ink a professional contract for the Locomotive First team since the formation of the Locomotive Academy in 2020. He signed alongside fellow teammate, Joel Maldonado.
Playing as a USL Academy player throughout 2022, the 17-year-old appeared in eight matches for El Paso last season and scored his first goal for the Locos in June. As Locomotive and Hartford were both locked at 0-0, Abarca sent a rocket from near the top of the 18-yard box into the far post’s upper corner. His masterclass debut goal cemented his name in Locomotive’s history books as the youngest ever goal scorer (16 years, 9 months and four days). The goal was even featured at #8 in SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays.
