ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Wednesday the club had re-signed midfielder Sergio Rivas, who will return for his fourth campaign with the club in the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Rivas is coming off a season in which he posted career-highs across the board. The 26-year-old set new individual marks in appearances (32), minutes (2,648), goals (7), assists (5), and chances created (32). The native of Parral, Mexico played a key role in United’s return to the postseason as he surpassed 100 appearances in the USL Championship for his career.

Analysis

Sergio Rivas’ return after a breakout campaign is an important retention for New Mexico after the departure of Justin Portillo to FC Tulsa earlier this week. Rivas’ dynamism in the center of the field certainly seems to be a fit for new Head Coach Eric Quill’s style, with the 26-year-old more than capable of filling one of the two No. 8 roles in the channels that apply pressure defensively and join the attack.

Rivas’ career numbers weren’t limited to the attacking third, either, with his 28 interceptions and 119 recoveries also career highs. The area he’ll want to improve in, though, is his success in winning possession to help his side in the midfield battle. Rivas won only 41.5 percent of his duels in 2023, the lowest number of his career. Getting back above 50 percent – as he did in each of his first two seasons at Reno 1868 FC – could see him become one of the league’s well-rounded midfield players.