Santiago Homenchenko

Santiago Damián Homenchenko Bianchi (born 30 August 2003) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga MX side Pachuca.

Early life
Homenchenko was born on 30 August 2003 in the capital city of Mercedes in the Soriano Department, Uruguay. Homenchenko grew up in a working-class family of paternal Ukrainian and maternal Italian descent. The youngest of ten siblings, Homenchenko promised his mother, who was diagnosed with cancer, at the age of six that he would become a professional footballer. In an interview describing his upbringing, Homenchenko said, "We spent nights without eating, relying on milk with rice or sweet cornstarch, but those things give you personality. [...] When I left Danubio at 15, I had to work, because my mother had no money. We were poor, but we weren't sad. I worked to buy my clothes, but we just had what we needed. That confronts you with reality."

Club career
Homenchenko began his football career with his neighborhood club Con los Mismos Colores. At the age of 10, he was recruited by Néstor Gonçalves and signed for Peñarol where he finished his childhood training. Homenchenko joined Danubio three years later, moving to Montevideo and beginning his youth training. He was released two years in the process after suffering an accident in which he broke a piece of his heel. During his recovery, he returned to his boyhood club of Con los Mismos Colores under their youth system. After a series of good performances, including winning an under-18 team national championship, he signed with Plaza Colonia for the 2020-21 season.

On July 2021, Homenchenko returned to Peñarol. On 8 September 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club. He made his professional debut on 19 September 2022 as a 84th minute substitute for Brian Lozano in a 3–1 league win over Cerrito. Homenchenko has also represented the under-19 system, in which he was part of the squad that won the 2022 U-20 Copa Libertadores.

On 15 January 2024, a transfer agreement between Peñarol and Real Oviedo was made for Homenchenko to join the Spanish club, whereas Ecuadorian winger Romario Ibarra, who was playing for Oveido on loan from Pachuca, will join Peñarol. Homenchenko's contract with Peñarol was ending in the middle of the year, therefore the club decided to sell 70% of his contract.

International career
Homenchenko currently represents Uruguay in their under-20 national team. In October 2022, Homenchenko was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2022 South American Games. He played all five matches in the tournament as Uruguay eventually finished fourth after reaching semi-finals. Homenchenko was part of the Uruguayan side that won the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. In January 2024, he was named in Uruguay's squad for the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament under Marcelo Bielsa.

Honours
Peñarol U20
 * U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2022

Uruguay U20
 * FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2023