From LA to Buenos Aires: 15-Year-Old Santi Garcia Joins River Plate’s Elite Academy

The youth academy of River Plate — long regarded as one of the finest talent factories in world football — has been recognized among the top three academies globally by the CIES Football Observatory. And recently, the Argentine giants made another intriguing addition to their youth system: Santi García, a promising 15-year-old born in the United States in 2010.

García possesses a triple nationality — American, Argentine and Italian — thanks to his family heritage. His football journey began on the West Coast, where he joined LAFC’s youth setup before later moving across the country to continue his development with New York City FC.

The Big Apple Chapter

The move to New York came as part of a family relocation, driven by his father’s work. There, García quickly impressed NYCFC coaches with his skill, composure, and versatility in attack. His performances were strong enough to earn him a contract offer from the club, a significant step for any young prospect in Major League Soccer’s academy system.

Welcome to River Plate

However, fate had other plans. Another job-related move took the García family to Argentina, where Santi decided to pursue a new challenge and attend trials with River Plate. The opportunity turned into success — he passed the trials and officially joined the club’s academy, becoming part of the U-15 age group that currently sits at the top of the league table and is on the verge of winning the championship.

Although he won’t be eligible for official registration with the team until next year, García is already training full-time with his age group and adapting to the South American football environment. His move represents more than just a change of scenery — it’s a major step for a young player who has experienced three distinct footballing cultures before turning sixteen.

For River Plate, the signing of García reinforces their growing strategy of scouting internationally and embracing dual or multi-national players, especially those with ties to the United States and Europe. And for Santi, it’s the start of a new chapter at one of South America’s most prestigious academies, a place where countless stars — from Pablo Aimar to Julián Álvarez — have forged their path to professional football.