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Rowdies’ Academy signing Santiago Castaneda to join MSV Duisburg

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 03/14/23, 1:05PM EDT

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17-year-old made debut for Tampa Bay in 2022 campaign, will remain with club until summer transfer window


Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Santiago Castaneda, a USL Academy signing, was handed his USL Championship debut last season by Head Coach Neill Collins. | Photo courtesy Matt May / Tampa Bay Rowdies

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Rowdies announced on Tuesday that the club’s USL Academy signing Santiago Castaneda has signed a contract to join German side MSV Duisburg at the start of July. Castaneda will remain on the Rowdies’ active roster and will be available for selection until July 1 when his two-year contract with Duisburg begins upon the opening of the international transfer window.

“We’re really pleased to see Santi’s attitude be rewarded with an opportunity to go and further his professional career in Germany,” said Rowdies Head Coach Neill Collins. “It’s been a pleasure to have him as part of the Rowdies and we’re looking forward to having him continue with us for the four months before making that step. We’ll watch his journey from afar and just wish him all the best.”

Castaneda joined the Rowdies as a USL Academy signing in March of last year and made his professional debut for the club as a substitute in its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup victory against the Villages SC that same week. He then earned his first USL Championship appearance when he came off the bench in the club’s road win at Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in June.

Founded in 1902, Duisburg was an original member of the Bundesliga when it was founded in 1963 and currently competes in Germany’s third division. Castaneda joins Duisburg via transfer from his local academy, Florida Premier FC. The 17-year-old also previously competed for the Rowdies at the 2020 USL Academy Eastern Conference showcase.

“The Tampa Bay Rowdies have always been a team I’ve wanted to be a part of growing up here in Tampa,” said Castaneda. “I am very grateful for the opportunity Neill gave me to be a part of such a great program and team. I’ve learned so much and have grown a lot as a player and person. The way the coaching staff and players welcomed me into the team and treated me as family is what made my experience at the Rowdies very special even with only being an academy player. I will not forget these past two years and am very thankful for the Tampa Bay Rowdies for supporting me and preparing me for these new opportunities in my life.”

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