Eriq Zavaleta

BIOGRAPHY

Eriq Anthony Zavaleta was born August 2, 1992 in Westfield, Indiana, United States. He is a center back in Major League Soccer. 

Zavaleta is the son of Carlos and Kristi Zavaleta. He has one sister, Alexa, and one brother, Casey. His father played professionally in the United States and El Salvador and was also a member of the El Salvador national team. He is also the nephew of former MLS and U.S. national team defender, and his current coach at Toronto FC, Greg Vanney.

Zavaleta was part of the U.S. Soccer Residency program in 2008–09 and made 23 appearances for the United States U-17 national team during that stretch, including three appearances in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Zavaleta mostly played as a defender with the under-17s. He is eligible to play for both the United States national team and El Salvador.

Zavaleta spent the 2014 season on loan at Chivas USA from Seattle Sounders FC, where he made 17 appearances and started in 15 matches for Chivas. In two seasons between Seattle and Chivas, Zavaleta has made a combined 22 appearances. He was originally selected 10th overall by Seattle in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Prior to being drafted by Seattle, Zavaleta played for the University of Indiana, where he spent two seasons. During the 2012 season, Zavaleta led the Hoosiers with 18 goals, and played a key role in the leading Indiana to its eighth national title in school history.

On January 26, 2015, Toronto FC announced that they had traded their 2016 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick to Seattle for Zavaleta. On September 5, 2015, Zavaleta scored his first goal for Toronto in a 2–1 loss against his former club, the Seattle Sounders. In 2016, he was briefly loaned to Toronto FC II. On February 23, 2021, Zavaleta re-signed with Toronto FC. At the end of the season, his contract option was declined.

On March 10, 2022, Zavaleta signed a one-year deal with LA Galaxy.