“Getting in the PL will be on his bucket list."
It was a historic moment in the MLS as Riley Dalgado became the first footballer of Indian heritage to sign a professional contract in the United States’ top football league.
The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a MLS Homegrown contract with LA Galaxy, the 2024 MLS Cup Champions.
Dalgado, who plays left-back, is currently signed to an MLS Next Pro contract through until the end of the 2025 season.
He will then join LA Galaxy as a homegrown player beginning in 2026.
He wrote on Instagram: “Extremely blessed and proud to announce that I have signed my first professional contract with my boyhood club LA Galaxy.
“It has been a dream of mine ever since I was young and to finally fulfill this dream brings my family and I so much joy.
“I want to thank the club for giving me this vote of confidence and for believing in me.
“Thank you to my family, friends, coaches, and teammates who have helped me become the person and player that I am today.
“Signing this deal is only extra motivation to work harder and I am very excited to see where this journey takes me.”
During the 2024 campaign, Dalgado recorded one goal and two assists in 30 matches across all competitions for the Galaxy’s second team Ventura County FC.
Riley Dalgado has Goan roots, with his mother Jeanette Moniz originally from Curtorim and his father Ronnie Dalgado from Bardez.
The couple met in Mumbai, then Bombay, where they were studying before migrating to the United States.
Jeanette moved to the US in 1990 before Ronnie joined her in 1993.
Riley Dalgado began playing football at the age of six at the American Youth Soccer organisation.
At eight, he joined South Bay LA Galaxy and when he was 11, he was scouted and had trials for LA Galaxy under-12s.
Dalgado and 400 boys were competing for 20 spots. Of the 20, only he and another are still at the academy.
Speaking about his son, Ronnie said:
“Riley is a left-footed left back with immense speed, knowledge of the game, and makes right decisions under pressure.
“He leads the team in assists and at this age, he has already played teams of calibre such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Manchester City, Tigres, Club America, Shanghai FC, and many more international teams.”
Ronnie said his son’s best moment was when Zlatan Ibrahimovic watched him play and after the match, he gave him one-on-one coaching.
Like many other aspiring footballers, Dalgado is a huge Lionel Messi fan, who also plays in the MLS, playing for Inter Miami.
Dalgado hopes to play in the Premier League and if he achieves that dream, he will become the first Goan heritage player.
Ronnie acknowledged: “Getting in the PL will be on his bucket list. We owe a lot to La Galaxy. They have invested a lot in Riley.”
Although Riley Dalgado is in the MLS, the family is not new to such fame.
Ronnie Dalgado was a footballer back in India and a state champion in athletics.
Ronnie’s uncle Peter represented Kenya in hockey in the Olympics.
But Ronnie’s biggest moment was when his son played for the United States under-17s.
He said: “I am so proud of this child; I couldn’t dream of having played for my country.
“But despite achieving this feat, he always keeps his head down and does what he is supposed to do. He is very humble.”
Riley Dalgado’s professional signing with LA Galaxy comes alongside other academy players Owen Pratt, Jose ‘Pepe’ Magana and Vicente Garcia.
LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz said:
“Today’s signings represent the great work that has been done by the LA Galaxy Academy staff over the past three years.
“Owen, Riley, Pepe and Vinny have excelled within our professional development pathway and we are extremely proud to be with them as they begin their professional careers with the LA Galaxy.”