DETROIT – Detroit City FC announced on Wednesday the club had signed defender Alex Villanueva to a two -year contract ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Villanueva joins DCFC having spent the past two seasons with fellow USL Championship club Orange County SC, where he recorded 52 appearances and recorded one goal and two assists. The 21-year-old – who becomes the second-youngest player on Le Rouge’s roster – has previously competed in the Championship for Tacoma Defiance, and overall has made 94 appearances  across the regular season and playoffs, logging 6,454 minutes of action.  

A native of Lancaster, Calif., Villanueva began his youth career as part of the Real Salt Lake Academy before making the switch to Seattle Sounders FC. Villanueva got his first taste of professional soccer at just 17 years old in 2019 when he made his debut for the Defiance, and he recorded 42 appearances overall for the side before joining Orange County.

Analysis

Alex Villanueva saw his playing time stall in his second season at Orange County SC, but at 21 years old there’s still time for the left back to make the jump to becoming a notable young player in the league. His quality on the ball – which this past season saw him record an 81.1 percent passing accuracy rate and 41.7 percent cross success rate – illustrated why OCSC brought him on board in the first place.

Villanueva could make a positive impact at Keyworth Stadium, potentially slotting in at left wingback, which would allow his attacking characteristics to come forward more fully.