York United Set To Loan Rafa Marquez’s Son Santiago

York United’s decision to loose Brem Soumaoro now makes a lot more sense with the news that 21-year-old Mexican defensive midfielder Santiago Marquez is expected to join the club.

The move was first broken by Cesar Luis Merlo yesterday, who reveals that the move comes in the shape of a one-year loan. While it was originally reported that the loan includes an option to buy, we can confirm that this is not the case.

Marquez has been plying his trade with the Club Necaxa U-23 team, tallying forty matches and 2,926 minutes of action so far with three goals contributed. He joined the club in 2023, starting with the U-19 team before working his way up the youth ranks.

York United would mark both his first foreign club and first minutes at the senior level when he takes to the pitch, with the club having mutually terminated its deal with Soumaoro to free up an international roster spot for the move. With the transfer window closing shortly, the announcement is expected to come soon.

Marquez began his career with the Atlas Guadalajara youth team in 2019, a move which came just one year after his father – legendary Mexican defender Rafa Marquez – hung up his boots. His father is currently the assistant manager of the Mexican national team, but has been promised a pathway to lead the team in the future.

York United’s last home match saw the team attract a larger-than-usual crowd with Jorge Campos as a special guest, though it remains to be seen if Rafa Marquez might stop by York Lions Stadium to watch how his son performs at the senior level.

Marquez will occupy York’s seventh and final international roster spot, the maximum allowed by Canada’s top flight.

York United currently rests second in Canadian Premier League standings, just one point off the top behind Atletico Ottawa. The Pasquel brothers have leaned heavily on their Mexican connections since purchasing the club, with Marquez being the fifth Mexican national to join the team out of seven allowed internationals, with former Atlas coach Benjamin Mora taking the reigns from Martin Nash midseason.

Thus far, the moves have York on track for a club points record and, perhaps more pragmatically, as a firm contender to finish as regular season champions.

Header Image Photo Credit: Club Necaxa