FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (April 23, 2024) – The New England Revolution have acquired veteran defender Xavier Arreaga (pronounced HAH-vee-ehr are-ee-AH-guh) in a trade with Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot, plus up to $75,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) if certain performance metrics are met. The 2019 MLS Cup and 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup winner adds over 100 games of MLS experience to New England’s backline before the close of the MLS primary transfer window on Tuesday night.
Arreaga, 29, arrived in Seattle as a Designated Player in 2019 and went on to amass 101 regular season appearances, 82 of which were starts, with the Sounders from 2019-24. Across all competitions in his career, spanning MLS and Ecuador, he has totaled more than 220 games played. This season, the center back has started three of his six appearances for Seattle.
The Ecuador international helped Seattle win the MLS Cup title in his first season with the club. In 2021, Seattle reached the final again as Arreaga enjoyed a breakout year with 26 appearances and was part of a defensive unit that did not concede a goal until the 11th game of the season. The following year, he helped the Sounders lift the Concacaf Champions Cup crown, playing in all eight games en route to the title, and earning Best XI honors for the tournament. As a result, Seattle became the first MLS team to represent the league at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“We are pleased to welcome Xavier Arreaga to the Revolution to continue his decorated MLS career. Xavier has been a key part of title-winning teams in Seattle, both in our league and at the continental level,” Revolution Sporting Director Curt Onalfo said. “His arrival adds important reinforcement to our defensive unit for the rest of this season and beyond.”
“Xavier will bring a calm and composure to our backline with his quality in possession and ability to start our attack,” Head Coach Caleb Porter added. “Defensively, he is a smart player who reads the game extremely well and will complement our other defenders. I really like his track record of winning trophies in Ecuador and in MLS, and his international experience will add leadership and confidence to our locker room.”
Prior to arriving in MLS, the Guayaquil native played four seasons with Ecuadorian power Barcelona SC, starting 78 of his 79 league appearances with eight goals. With Barcelona, Arreaga won the domestic league title in 2016. He also played 11 times in Copa Libertadores, scoring once. The six-foot-tall defender spent his first two professional seasons with Manta FC in Ecuador’s second division.
Arreaga has earned 20 caps from the Ecuador Men’s National team, including nine selections for World Cup qualifying action, and one goal scored. He earned a spot on the national team’s final roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Arreaga earned his senior debut in a friendly against Panama in November 2018. Most recently, he played twice in March 2023 friendlies against Australia.
The Revolution host Inter Miami CF on Saturday, April 27 at Gillette Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. ET match is available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Listen to the match on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 (WBZ-FM), with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies, and on 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA” in Portuguese.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire defender Xavier Arreaga from Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for a 2025 international roster slot, plus up to $75,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) if certain performance metrics are met, on April 23, 2024.
Xavier Arreaga at a Glance:
- Central defender is an MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup winner with Seatle Sounders FC.
- Signed with Seattle as a Designated Player in 2019 and helped win back-to-back Western Conference titles and the 2019 MLS Cup.
- With the Sounders, accrued 105 MLS appearances between regular season and playoffs.
- Named to Concacaf’s Best XI after leading Seattle to the 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup title.
- Made 79 appearances, tallying eight goals, with Barcelona SC across four seasons with the Ecuadorian powerhouse.
- Won Ecuadorian league championship in 2016.
- Capped 20 times by Ecuador, including nine times in World Cup qualifiers, and named to the country’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster.
#3 Xavier Arreaga
Pronunciation: HAH-vee-ehr are-ee-AH-guh
Position: Defender
Date of Birth: Sept. 28, 1994 (Guayaquil, Ecuador)
Hometown: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165 lbs.
Nationality: Ecuador
How Acquired: Trade with Seattle Sounders FC for 2025 international roster slot on April 23, 2024.
