ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Thursday it had signed forward Marlon Vargas ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Vargas had previously joined the Black & Yellow on loan from the Colorado Rapids 2 of MLS NEXT Pro late in the 2024 campaign. He recorded one goal in eight appearances for the side while also notching three chances created in 306 minutes of action.

A native of Bakersfield, Calif., Vargas competed in the Seattle Sounders FC Academy and made 65 appearances in the USL Championship for the Tacoma Defiance, recording four goals and seven assists in 3,330 minutes.

He then broke out as the Defiance joined MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, recording 13 goals and six assists in 25 appearances to earn Best XI honors. Over the past two seasons with the Rapids 2, the 23-year-old recorded 15 goals and 16 assists in 49 appearances before joining New Mexico on loan to close the 2024 season.