From San Diego to Zagreb: Saulo Tejeda Makes a Major European Move at 17

At just 17 years old, Saulo Tejeda is taking another major step in a rapidly developing career. The Mexican youth international has joined Croatian powerhouse GNK Dinamo Zagreb, continuing a European journey that began only recently after his development in the United States.

Tejeda arrives at Dinamo after spending part of the summer with NK Lokomotiva Zagreb, following his time with San Diego Surf in the U.S. The move represents a significant opportunity for the 2009-born attacker, who is now entering one of the most respected development environments in Central and Eastern Europe. 

Born in Tehuacán, Puebla, on May 1, 2009, Tejeda has built much of his recent development in California. With San Diego Surf ECNL, he established himself as an attacking player capable of operating from wide areas while also contributing from central positions.

One of the more intriguing elements of Tejeda’s profile is the contrast between his position and his preferred foot. Although he has been listed primarily as a right winger, he is a left-footed attacker who can use that profile to attack defenders from the flank and create situations around the final third.

Tejeda’s progression with Mexico has been another important part of his development. He has represented El Tri at youth level and was involved with the Mexico U17 setup, giving him international experience alongside his club career in the United States.

His youth-national-team résumé includes a goal against Barbados during the 2025 Concacaf U17 qualifying cycle. More recently, in May 2026, Tejeda scored twice for Mexico U17 in a victory over Newell’s Old Boys during an international tournament, further underlining his ability to influence games against international opposition. 

Tejeda’s first move to Croatia came with NK Lokomotiva Zagreb. By the summer of 2026, he was already appearing in the club’s U19 environment, beginning the process of adapting to European football at a relatively young age.

Just weeks later, his trajectory took another step forward.

Dinamo Zagreb has now agreed to bring the 17-year-old into its system, giving Tejeda the opportunity to continue his development at a club renowned for identifying and developing young talent. The Croatian powerhouse has historically provided a pathway for talented youngsters to progress toward senior football and, eventually, some of Europe’s biggest leagues.

For Tejeda, that makes this more than a change of club. It is a change of football environment at a crucial stage of his development.

The next challenge will be turning that potential into consistent performances at the highest level available to him.

For Mexican football, meanwhile, Tejeda becomes another young player developing abroad at an early age. And for Dinamo, the arrival of a left-footed Mexican winger with international youth experience represents another intriguing addition to a development system that has consistently looked beyond Croatia for emerging talent.

At 17, Saulo Tejeda is only beginning his European story. But his path from San Diego to Zagreb has already taken him into an environment where his next steps could be watched closely.