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Xavier Valdez

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Xavier Valdez
Personal information
Full name Xavier William Valdez Derrig[1]
Date of birth (2003-11-23) 23 November 2003 (age 21)[1]
Place of birth Harlem, New York, U.S.
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
2009–2019 Manhattan SC
2019–2020 Shattuck-Saint Mary's
2020–2022 Houston Dynamo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 Houston Dynamo 2 50 (0)
2022–2024 Houston Dynamo 0 (0)
International career
2022–2024 Dominican Republic U20 6 (0)
2024– Dominican Republic U23 2 (0)
2023– Dominican Republic 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 October 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024

Xavier William Valdez Derrig (born 23 November 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. Born in the United States, he plays for the Dominican Republic national team.

Club career

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Born in New York City, Valdez began his youth career with Manhattan SC where he played as a winger, and after a growth spurt was switched to a goalkeeper.[2] He moved to Minnesota as a sophomore in high school, and joined Shattuck-Saint Mary's where he continued playing football. After a couple of seasons there, he joined the youth academy at Houston Dynamo in July 2020.[3] On 27 February 2022, he signed a homegrown contract with Houston Dynamo.[4] On November 7, 2024, his contract option was declined by Houston following their 2024 season.[5]

International career

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Valdez was born in the United States to a Dominican father and American mother.[2] In April 2022, he was called up to a training camp for the United States U20s.[6] He played for the Dominican Republic U20s at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where the team finished in second place.[7] He was also called up for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[8] He made his debut with the senior Dominican Republic national team in a friendly 5–0 loss to Chile on 17 June 2023.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Men's Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024: Squad list" (PDF). FIFA. 24 July 2024. p. 2. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Reeves, Muriel (21 May 2023). "He became a goalkeeper, was compared to Courtois, played for the United States and will defend the Dominican Republic at the U-20 World Cup".
  3. ^ "Dynamo goalkeeper Xavier Valdez is next, and he's more than ready". Bayou City Soccer.
  4. ^ "Houston Dynamo sign goalkeeper Xavier Valdez to homegrown contract". 90min.com. 28 February 2022.
  5. ^ FC, Houston Dynamo. "Houston Dynamo FC announce roster decisions following the 2024 season | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC.
  6. ^ "U20 MNT heads to California for camp | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com.
  7. ^ FC, Houston Dynamo. ""He just finds a way" | Grubb, Valdez reflect on DR's U-20 Championship Run | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC.
  8. ^ "República Dominicana anuncia jugadores convocados para Mundial FIFA Sub-20". ESPN.com.ar. 9 May 2023.
  9. ^ "Chile aplastó a República Dominicana en amistoso internacional". DSPORTS (in Spanish). 17 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
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