EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Locomotive FC has signed defender Tony Alfaro from Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season, the club announced today. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.
“It was important for us to secure a tenacious central defender good on the ball like Tony, and I am excited to welcome him to our city and club,” Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut said. “He is an experienced left-footed center-back with a ton of experience in MLS and he will be a great asset to anchor the Locomotive backline.”
The veteran defender joins El Paso after an overall six year-stint in Major League Soccer, logging 4,841 minutes over 91 total appearances across all competitions between LA Galaxy (2023), New York City FC (2023), DC United (2021-22) and Seattle Sounders FC (2016-18), lifting the MLS Cup in his debut season with the Sounders.
The 30-year-old Mexican American was with Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara for the 2019 season, making three total appearances before going out on loan to Club Atlético Zacatepec for the 2019 Ascenso MX Apertura, recording 999 minutes and nine starts in 14 total matches.
Alfaro arrives with previous USL Championship experience, playing for Reno 1868 FC (2020) and Tacoma Defiance (previously known as Seattle Sounders II, 2016-18) in the USL Championship. He started 46 of his 48 USL Championship matches, scoring a goal and assisting two across 4,049 minutes.
“I’m excited to experience a new challenge in El Paso and continue to add to the winning culture,” Alfaro said. “I hope that with my leadership and experience, I can contribute to this team’s continued growth.”
Alfaro also played for Ventura County Fusion (2014) in USL League Two, formerly the Premier Development League (PDL), and is an alum of California State University, Dominguez Hills, who he represented on the field between 2012-15, notching 10 goals and six assists in 75 appearances.
Future roster transactions will be announced as Locomotive prepares for its sixth season in the USL Championship.
El Paso Locomotive FC’s 2024 roster as it currently stands is listed below, alphabetically by position.
Goalkeepers (1): Javier Garcia
Defenders (5): Noah Dollenmayer, Nick Hinds, Miles Lyons, Elijah Martin, Tony Alfaro
Midfielders (8): Diego Abarca, Bolu Akinyode, Arun Basuljevic, Eric Calvillo, Chris Garcia, Luis Moreno, Petar Petrovic, Liam Rose
Forwards (4): Justin Dhillon, Amando Moreno, Tumi Moshobane, Joaquin Rivas