Official: York United Adds Liga MX Youngster Santiago Marquez

As we reported was in the works last week, York United has confirmed the loan of Club Necaxa midfielder Santiago Marquez for the 2024 CPL season.

The 21-year-old – who is the son of legendary Mexican footballer Rafa Marquez – will join the Nine Stripes on loan for his first senior minutes at the professional level. He’s been regularly featuring for the U-23 side at Club Necaxa, tallying forty matches and 2,926 minutes of action with three goals contributed.

Marquez joined the Liga MX side in 2023, starting with the U-19 team before working his way up the youth ranks. His professional career began with Atlas Guadalajara five years ago.

The 21-year-old’s loan move makes him the fifth Mexican national to join the side’s roster this season, with York United parting ways with Brem Soumaoro to free up an international roster spot for it.

“We’re excited to land a player of Santiago’s quality,” says YUFC President Ricardo Pasquel, who also recently brought in Jorge Guzman on loan from Atlas – a player who has made an instant impact as a starter, and is known to Marquez.

“Like Jorge, he’s another example of a young talent who has already amassed plenty of experience in a competitive environment. When we approached Santiago about the possibility of joining, he was able to chat to Jorge in depth about what we’re building here: the culture, the motivations, the objectives.”

With York United rising to the top of the table in the Pasquel Brothers’ first season in charge, Ricardo says the club ‘can’t rest on its laurels’ when it comes to personnel changes amidst the on-pitch success:

“When we have an opportunity to pounce on impressive personnel, we’re going to take it. Santiago is a wonderful addition to the roster and will contribute enormously during the remainder of the campaign. With so little between the teams in the CPL right now, these additional elements like Jorge and Santiago could prove crucial in the battle for the championship.”

The Pasquel Brothers appear to be making good on their promise of establishing York United as a title contender, with head coach Benjamin Mora‘s tactics on the pitch igniting the side into a force to be reckoned with – and one that has seen existing players like Brian Wright and Elijah Adekugbe blossom.

The head coach transition – completed in June – is another example of how the York United leadership isn’t afraid to rock the boat midseason, with the Nine Stripes having been in a playoff position at the time they parted ways with Nash over philosophical differences.

While Santagio has already been training with the team, it remains to be seen if he feature in the club’s home clash against Cavalry this Friday night.

Header Image Photo Credit: Club Necaxa