Xavier Valdez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Valdez and the second or maternal family name is Derrig.
Xavier Valdez
Personal information
Full name Xavier William Valdez Derrig[1]
Date of birth (2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth Harlem, New York, U.S.
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2009–2019 Manhattan SC
2019–2020 Shattuck-Saint Mary's
2020–2022 Houston Dynamo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Houston Dynamo 2 50 (0)
2022–2024 Houston Dynamo 0 (0)
International career‡
2022–2024 Dominican Republic U20 6 (0)
2024– Dominican Republic U23 2 (0)
2023– Dominican Republic 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Xavier William Valdez Derrig (born 23 November 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Born in the United States, he plays for the Dominican Republic national team.

Club career

Born in New York City, Valdez began his youth career with Manhattan SC where he played as a winger, and after a growth spurt was switched to a goalkeeper.[2] He moved to Minnesota as a sophomore in high school, and joined Shattuck-Saint Mary's where he continued playing football. After a couple of seasons there, he joined the youth academy at Houston Dynamo in July 2020.[3] On 27 February 2022, he signed a homegrown contract with Houston Dynamo.[4] On November 7, 2024, his contract option was declined by Houston following their 2024 season.[5]

International career

Valdez was born in the United States to a Dominican father and American mother.[2] In April 2022, he was called up to a training camp for the United States U20s.[6] He played for the Dominican Republic U20s at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where the team finished in second place.[7] He was also called up for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[8] He made his debut with the senior Dominican Republic national team in a friendly 5–0 loss to Chile on 17 June 2023.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024: Squad list" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2024. p. 2. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Reeves, Muriel (21 May 2023). "He became a goalkeeper, was compared to Courtois, played for the United States and will defend the Dominican Republic at the U-20 World Cup".
  3. ^ "Dynamo goalkeeper Xavier Valdez is next, and he's more than ready". Bayou City Soccer.
  4. ^ "Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Xavier Valdez to homegrown contract". 90min.com. 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ FC, Houston Dynamo. "Houston Dynamo FC announce roster decisions following the 2024 season | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC.
  6. ^ "U20 MNT heads to California for camp | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  7. ^ FC, Houston Dynamo. ""He just finds a way" | Grubb, Valdez reflect on DR's U-20 Championship Run | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC.
  8. ^ "República Dominicana anuncia jugadores convocados para Mundial FIFA Sub-20". ESPN.com.ar. 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Chile aplastó a República Dominicana en amistoso internacional". DSPORTS (in Spanish). 17 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.


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