EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC announced on Thursday the club had signed forward Chris Garcia ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

An El Paso native, Garcia spent the final months of the 2022 USL Championship season with Locomotive FC on loan from former club Real Salt Lake, starting twice in his five appearances.

“Chris is an exciting young player that integrated immediately last year and played in every game he was available to us,” said Locomotive FC General Manager, Business & Technical Operations Andrew Forrest. “We are excited to see him take the next steps in his development and provide an attacking spark off the wing for us. He is another shining example of the talent levels here in El Paso.”

With Real Salt Lake, Garcia made his professional debut at the age of 17 during the 2020 season and notched four overall appearances with the club. Garcia was loaned out to Ljungskile SK in Sweden’s second division for the 2021 season, where he made five appearances.

The 19-year-old spent the majority of the 2022 season with MLS NEXT Pro side Real Monarchs SLC, recording one goal and two assists in 10 matches. Garcia had previously made three appearances for the Monarchs during the 2021 USL Championship season.

At the Academy level, Garcia joined the RSL Academy ahead of the 2018 season and recorded 18 goals in 38 games, starting in 30 matches. He tallied seven goals in six matches during the 2019 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season and with the RSL U-17s, Garcia helped lift his side to an undefeated run in the USSDA Winter Showcase, scoring one goal in three appearances.