Diego Fagundez

BIOGRAPHY

Diego Fagúndez was born February 14, 1995, in Montevideo, Uruguay. He is an attacking midfielder in Major League Soccer.

On November 15, 2010, Fagúndez was signed to a contract by the New England Revolution, making him the first-ever homegrown player the Revolution signed from its youth academy. Although on the main club roster, he continued to train with and play for the academy team.

He made his full professional debut on April 26, 2011, in a Revs' 3–2 victory over D.C. United in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. He made his league debut on August 6, 2011, as a substitute against Chivas USA, where he drew a penalty (which was converted by Shalrie Joseph) and scored his first goal for New England.

Fagúndez became a regular starter for the New England Revolution in 2013, when he had a successful breakout season, scoring 13 goals and assisting 7. Fagúndez quickly became one of MLS's great young talents and won player of the week honors in week 14 of the 2013 MLS season. Fagúndez obtained a US green card in October 2013 qualifying him as a domestic player under MLS squad rules. He was featured on an episode of a documentary television show that MLS 36 in August 2013.

Prior to the start of the 2015 season, rumors emerged of interest in Fagúndez from Serie A sides Atalanta B.C. and ACF Fiorentina, Neither side, however, was willing to match the $4 million fee asked by the Revolution for Fagúndez's services.

During the 2015 season, Fagúndez became the youngest player in MLS history to reach 100 appearances for his club. 

Fagúndez was named the Midnight Riders Man of Year at the conclusion of the 2017 MLS season.

On October 28, 2018, prior to the Revolution's final match of the 2018 season, Fagúndez's father (who also serves as his agent) posted a tweet insinuating that it could be his son's final appearance for the franchise. The match, against the Montreal Impact, saw Fagúndez's 50th career MLS goal. He is currently the youngest player in MLS history to score 50 goals.

On January 22, 2019, multiple sources reported that the Revolution turned down an offer from Club Nacional de Football for Fagúndez. The Revolution exercised Fagúndez's 2020 contract option prior to the start of the 2020 season. Fagúndez made his 244th appearance for the Revolution in the franchises' 2020 season opener against the Chicago Fire, tying Jay Heaps for fourth most appearances all time. Going into the final match of the 2020 regular season against the Philadelphia Union, Fagúndez was one appearance shy of breaking the Revolution's all-time appearance record, held by Shalrie Joseph. Fagúndez did not appear in the match, thus ending the season one appearance shy of breaking the record. The Revolution lost the match 2-0. On November 20, 2020, as Fagúndez was nearing the end of his contract with the Revolution, news emerged that Fagúndez had received an offer for a contract extension from the Revolution as well as interest from other MLS clubs, and clubs in La Liga and Liga MX. In 2016 Fagúndez had signed a three-year contract plus a club option for a fourth year. On December 8, 2020, the Revolution announced their end-of-season roster moves. Fagúndez was listed as out of contract with the franchise. On his personal Instagram account, he posted a farewell statement to the Revolution and their fans stating that it was time for him to move on. In an interview with The Boston Globe's Frank Dell'Apa, Fagúndez stated that he wanted to remain with the team, but felt a low-ball offer was presented, and he declined to accept it.

On January 5, 2021, Fagúndez signed a one-year deal with Austin FC. On April 24, 2021, Fagúndez made his first starting appearance for his new team, and scored the first goal in the franchise's history in its 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. He would score again the following week, this time notching the game-winner in the franchise's 1-0 win over Minnesota United. Fagundez scored his first goal of the 2022 season, an equalizer in a 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders as a substitute. He also had Austin's first ever goal in national competition play in a 2-1 loss to San Antonio FC of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup on April 20. Three days later, Fagundez had two second half assists to come back from 2-0 and win 3-2 at D.C. United including the game-winning goal.