Aaron Herrera (footballer) explained

Aaron Herrera
Fullname:Aaron Joseph Herrera[1]
Birth Date:6 June 1997
Birth Place:Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States
Height:1.80m[2]
Position:Defender
Currentclub:D.C. United
Clubnumber:22
Youthyears1:2012–2015
Youthclubs1:Real Salt Lake AZ
Collegeyears1:2015–2017
College1:New Mexico Lobos
Collegecaps1:54
Collegegoals1:7
Years1:2016–2017
Clubs1:FC Tucson
Caps1:11
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–2022
Clubs2:Real Salt Lake
Caps2:124
Goals2:1
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Real Monarchs
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:CF Montréal
Caps4:19
Goals4:0
Years5:2024–
Clubs5:D.C. United
Caps5:22
Goals5:1
Nationalyears1:2017
Nationalteam1:United States U20
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2019–2021
Nationalteam2:United States U23
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2021
Nationalteam3:United States
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalteam4:Guatemala
Nationalcaps4:8
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:27 July 2024
Ntupdate:24 March 2024

Aaron Joseph Herrera (born 6 June 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. Born in the United States, he plays for the Guatemala national team.

Early career

Herrera played three years of college soccer at the University of New Mexico between 2015 and 2017, scoring 20 goals and tallying 8 assists in 54 appearances.[3]

Herrera also played with Premier Development League side FC Tucson in 2016 and 2017.[4]

Professional career

On December 15, 2017, Herrera signed as a Homegrown Player for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.[5]

On December 21, 2022, Herrera was traded to CF Montréal for $500,000 in General Allocation Money, a 2023 international roster spot, Montréal's 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick and a sell-on fee.[6]

On December 12, 2023, D.C. United acquired Herrera from CF Montréal in exchange for Brazilian defender Ruan and $500,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money.[7] During his maiden season with the club, Herrera was named to the 2024 MLS All-Star Team.[8]

International career

United States

Internationally, Herrera had represented the United States U20s.[9] In January 2021, Herrera made one appearance for the senior United States in a 7–0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago.

He was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.[10]

Guatemala

In June 2023, Herrera was named to Guatemala's preliminary squad ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[11] He made his Guatemala debut on June 15 in a friendly match against Costa Rica.[12]

Personal life

Herrera was born in the United States to a Guatemalan father, Diego Herrera and American mother, Donni Herrera.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Real Monarchs2018United Soccer League5050
Real Salt Lake2018Major League Soccer1601030200
20193201020350
202020010210
202129130321
2022270270
Total12411010901351
CF Montréal2023Major League Soccer1902020230
D.C. United2024Major League Soccer2210030251
Career total17023060901882

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
United States202110
Total10
Guatemala202360
202420
Total80
Career total90

Honours

United States U20

2017[13]

Individual

2024

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying – Rosters Provisional Lists. mcusercontent.com. May 3, 2020. 31 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220531045333/https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/92e7a32f-796e-42b9-af2b-f0d7166d4246/20_MOQ_Rosters_Provisional_Lists.pdf. live.
  2. Web site: Aaron Herrera . 21 August 2022 . Real Salt Lake.
  3. Web site: Aaron Herrera – 2017. golobos.com. July 30, 2015. The University of New Mexico. May 3, 2020. 11 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025811/https://golobos.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2724. live.
  4. Web site: Aaron Herrera. uslpdl.com. USL PDL. May 3, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20170516064431/https://www.uslpdl.com/aaron-herrera. May 16, 2017.
  5. Web site: Real Salt Lake sign Homegrown defender Aaron Herrera, Monarchs' Taylor Peay. mlssoccer.com. Major League Soccer. December 15, 2017. May 3, 2020. 4 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190304234552/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/12/15/real-salt-lake-sign-homegrown-defender-aaron-herrera-monarchs-taylor-peay. live.
  6. Web site: CF Montréal acquire Aaron Herrera in trade with Real Salt Lake | MLSSoccer.com. mlssoccer. 21 December 2022. 27 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230327231454/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montreal-acquire-aaron-herrera-in-trade-with-real-salt-lake. live.
  7. Web site: D.C. United Acquire Defender Aaron Herrera from CF Montréal in Exchange for $500K GAM and Defender Ruan . dcunited.com . 12 December 2023 . 18 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231218151258/https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-united-acquire-defender-aaron-herrera-from-cf-montreal . live .
  8. Web site: Forward Christian Benteke and Defender Aaron Herrera Selected to the 2024 MLS All-Star Game. dcunited.com. D.C. United. July 1, 2024. July 5, 2024.
  9. Web site: Las Cruces born soccer player riding high after U-20 World Cup experience. lcsun-news.com. Las Cruces Sun-News. June 16, 2017. May 3, 2020. 8 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191208001605/https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/06/16/las-cruces-born-soccer-player-aaron-herrera-riding-high-after-u-20-world-cup-experience/401874001/. live.
  10. Web site: U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Jason Kreis Names Roster for Concacaf Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship . www.ussoccer.com . March 11, 2021 . 20 March 2021 . 19 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210719193902/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2021/03/us-u23-mnt-head-coach-jason-kreis-names-roster-for--concacaf-mens-olympic-qualifying-championship . live .
  11. Web site: National team roster – 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. 1 June 2023. 3 June 2023. 14 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230614175940/https://mcusercontent.com/78d3589fb61466b549ff752e5/files/0ee387a4-3c03-16cb-cd23-fb9eadc73633/PL_GC2023_Jun1.pdf. live.
  12. Web site: El jugador del CF Montreal destaca en la alineación de la Bicolor para enfrentar a Costa Rica. ESPNDeportes.com. 16 June 2023. es. 16 June 2023. 16 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230616161146/https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/guatemala/nota/_/id/12198970/debut-aaron-herrera-disputa-primer-partido-seleccion-de-guatemala?platform=amp. live.
  13. Web site: U-20 MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM CLAIMS FIRST CONCACAF U-20 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SHOOTOUT WIN VS. HONDURAS. ussoccer.com. 5 March 2017. 29 June 2021. 12 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012182049/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/03/05/20/16/20170305-recap-u20-mnt-wins-concacaf-u20-championship-for-first-time-with-shootout-win-vs-honduras. live.