Eriq Zavaleta

Eriq Anthony Zavaleta (born August 2, 1992) is a professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. Born in the United States, he plays for the El Salvador national team.

Youth and college
Zavaleta played his freshman and senior seasons of high school soccer at Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana. He scored 25 goals and nine assists as a freshman and twenty goals and ten assists as a senior. He also spent his youth career with FC Pride, Real Salt Lake, and Chivas USA, and was also part of Columbus Crew's USL Super-20 championship team in 2011.

On February 7, 2011, Zavaleta signed a letter of intent to play college soccer at Indiana University. In his freshman year with the Hoosiers in 2011, Zavaleta started 22 games and led the team with ten goals and five assists and was also the team leader in points with 25. He went on to be named College Soccer News All-Freshman first team, NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first team selection, Soccer America All-Freshman first team and Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Year.

In his sophomore year, Zavaleta started all 24 matches and again was the team leader with 40 points, with 18 goals and four assists. He led the team to their eighth national title. One of the four assists came in the 2012 College Cup final against no. 3 Georgetown, when he set up teammate Nikita Kotlov for what turned out to be the title-clinching goal. He went on to be named Big Ten All-Tournament team, NSCAA third-team All-American, College Soccer News first-team All-American and the College Cup All-Tournament team. At Indiana University he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Seattle Sounders FC
On January 5, 2013, it was announced by agent Ron Waxman that Zavaleta had signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. On January 17, Zavaleta was selected 10th overall by Seattle Sounders FC and immediately added to the roster. He made his professional debut on March 23, 2013, in a 1–0 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Chivas USA
On February 28, 2014, Chivas USA announced that they had added Zavaleta to their roster on loan from Seattle Sounders FC for one year. In 2014, he replaced Bobby Burling as the center back was out of play after he underwent a knee surgery.

Toronto FC
On January 26, 2015, Toronto FC announced that they had traded their 2016 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick to Seattle for Zavaleta.

On September 5, 2015, Zavaleta scored his first goal for Toronto in a 2–1 loss against his former club, the Seattle Sounders. In 2016, he was briefly loaned to Toronto FC II.

On February 23, 2021, Zavaleta re-signed with Toronto FC. At the end of the season, his contract option was declined.

LA Galaxy
On March 10, 2022, Zavaleta signed a one-year deal with LA Galaxy. He made his debut on April 19, 2022, against the San Diego Loyal SC in the U.S. Open Cup. He later made his MLS debut against Real Salt Lake on April 30, 2022. In February 2023, the Galaxy announced Zavaleta had signed a new two-year deal to remain with the club.

International career
Zavaleta was part of the U.S. Soccer Residency program in 2008–09 and made 23 appearances for the United States U-17 national team during that stretch, including three appearances in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Zavaleta mostly played as a defender with the under-17s.

He is eligible to play for both the United States national team and El Salvador.

In April 2021, it was reported that Zavaleta had gained clearance from FIFA to represent El Salvador. The next month on May 26, Zavaleta was called up to El Salvador ahead of their 2022 FIFA world Cup qualification matches. He debuted for El Salvador in a 7–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification win over United States Virgin Islands on June 5, 2021. He scored his first goal in a 3–0 2022 World Cup qualifier win over Antigua and Barbuda on June 8, 2021. In his third match on June 16, he was given the captain's armband to wear, after the team's captain was substituted out.

Personal life
Zavaleta is the son of Carlos and Kristi Zavaleta. He has one sister, Alexa and one brother, Casey. His father played professionally in the United States and was also a member of the El Salvador national team. He is also the nephew of former MLS and U.S. national team defender, and his current coach at LA Galaxy and former coach at Toronto FC, Greg Vanney.

International goals

 * Scores and results list El Salvador's goal tally first.

Honors
Toronto FC
 * MLS Cup: 2017
 * Supporters' Shield: 2017
 * Canadian Championship: 2016, 2017, 2018
 * Trillium Cup: 2016, 2017, 2019

Indiana University
 * NCAA College Cup: 2012

Individual
 * College Soccer News All-Freshman first team: 2011
 * NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region first team: 2011
 * Soccer America All-Freshman first team: 2011
 * Chicagoland Soccer News Player of the Year (2): 2011, 2012
 * Big Ten All-Tournament team: 2012
 * NSCAA third-team All-American: 2012
 * College Soccer News first-team All-American: 2012
 * College Cup All-Tournament team: 2012
 * Soccer America MVP first team: 2012