Eduard Atuesta

Eduard Andrés Atuesta Velasco (born 18 June 1997) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Orlando City.

Club career

Independiente Medellín

Atuesta made his senior debut in the Copa Colombia when he started in a 5–1 victory over Envigado FC on 13 April 2016. Later that season, Atuesta made his league debut in the Torneo Finalización when he came on as a 55th-minute substitute for Juan David Cabezas in a 1–1 draw with Jaguares de Córdoba on 18 September. Three days later, Atuesta made his international debut in the Copa Sudamericana when he came on as a 63rd-minute substitute for John Édison Hernández in a 2–0 victory over Brazilian club Santa Cruz.

In the 2017 season, Atuesta became a regular starter for the club as Independiente Medellín were defending Torneo Apertura champions for the first time since 2004. Independiente Medellín made it to the final of the 2017 Copa Colombia, allowing Atuesta his first chance to win a trophy as part of the squad, but the club would lose 3–1 to Atlético Junior on aggregate.

In the 2018 season, Atuesta made just one appearance for the club, a 3–0 victory over Atlético Huila on 3 February.

Loan to Los Angeles FC

Atuesta signed with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC for their debut 2018 season on a season-long loan deal on 27 February 2018. Atuesta made his first appearance with LAFC in the inaugural El Tráfico derby on 31 March, when he was subbed in during a 4–3 away loss to the LA Galaxy. Atuesta scored his first goal for the club, the opening goal of a 2–0 win against Minnesota United on 9 May.

Los Angeles FC

On 13 December 2018, Los Angeles FC announced that they had signed Atuesta permanently on a three-year deal. On 21 April 2019, Atuesta scored his first goal as a permanent signing for the club, the second goal of a 4–1 win over the Seattle Sounders. Los Angeles FC qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs for the second season in a row, and the club secured their first Supporters' Shield, their first major trophy in club history. On 24 October Atuesta made his playoffs debut in a El Tráfico semi-finals derby against LA Galaxy, which LAFC won 4–2. LAFC saw their MLS Cup playoffs campaign end in a 1–3 defeat to the Seattle Sounders on 29 October, which saw Atuesta score the opening goal and mark his first playoffs goal of his career.

On 27 February 2020, Atuesta made his international debut with LAFC in the CONCACAF Champions League in a 3–0 victory over Club León which saw LAFC come back to win 3–2 on aggregate. In the semi-finals of the competition against Club América on 19 December, Atuesta received a red card in the 45th-minute as LAFC were up 1–0, but despite this LAFC went on to win the game 3–1 with the help of two goals from Carlos Vela in under two minutes. Atuesta's red card meant he would miss the final, which LAFC lost 2–1 to Tigres UANL.

On 4 August 2021, Atuesta was selected by Bob Bradley to the MLS All-Stars for a 2021 MLS All-Star Game, friendly match against the Liga MX All-Stars alongside teammates Diego Rossi and Jesús David Murillo. The game ended 1–1, with Murillo scoring an equalizing goal to see the game go to a penalty shoot-out, and in the subsequent penalty shoot-out Atuesta saw his attempt saved by Guillermo Ochoa, but the MLS All-Stars would win the shoot-out 3–2.

Palmeiras

On 13 December 2021, Atuesta was sold to SE Palmeiras, Palmeiras, where he signed a four-year contract. On 29 January 2022, Atuesta made his debut for the club in the Campeonato Paulista in a 1–1 draw with São Bernardo Futebol Clube, São Bernardo. Due to fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Atuesta was able to play for Palmeiras in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup which was played in February 2022. Atuesta made his international debut for the club in the competition on 8 February in a 2–0 victory over Al Ahly SC, Al Ahly when he came on as a 86th-minute substitute for Zé Rafael. On 7 August, Atuesta scored his first goal for the club, the third of a 3–0 win against Goiás Esporte Clube, Goiás in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Série A.

In the following 2023 season, Atuesta saw his playing time fall dramatically and he only made seven appearances across all competitions. In the 2024 season, Atuesta made just one appearance, an 81st-minute substitute appearance for Raphael Veiga in a 1–1 draw with Grêmio Novorizontino, Novorizontino in the Campeonato Paulista before departing.

Return to Los Angeles FC (loan)

On 8 February 2024, Atuesta was loaned back to Los Angeles FC for the 2024 season on a one-year loan with an option to buy. On 24 February, Atuesta marked his return to the club in a 2–1 victory over the Seattle Sounders. On 23 March, Atuesta scored his first goal since returning to the club, the final goal of a 5–0 rout of Nashville SC. Atuesta scored four goals and made six assists across the regular season. On 27 November, Los Angeles FC announced that Atuesta's loan had expired and that they were not pursuing a purchase.

Brief return to Palmeiras

Following Atuesta's return to Palmeiras following the end of his loan, Atuesta made three appearances, all in the Campeonato Paulista.

Orlando City

On 10 February 2025, Atuesta was signed by Major League Soccer club Orlando City on a one-year contract with a club option for 2026. Atuesta made his debut when he started in the opening match of the season against Philadelphia Union which ended in a 2–4 loss. On 15 March, Atuesta provided an assist and a secondary assist in a 2–2 draw with the New York Red Bulls and for this performance he was named to the 2025 Major League Soccer season#Team/Player of the Matchday, Team of the Matchday. On 25 June, Atuesta provided a hat-trick of assists in a 4–2 win at St. Louis City SC and for his performance he was named to the Team of the Matchday for a second time a day later.

International career

Atuesta played for the Colombia national under-20 football team, Colombia under-20 national team at the 2017 South American U-20 Championship. In August 2019, he was called into the Colombia Olympic football team, Colombia under-23 national team for Exhibition game#Association football, friendlies against Brazil and Argentina.

Personal life

Atuesta earned his Permanent residence (United States), U.S. green card in February 2019. This status also qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.

Career statistics

Club

Honours

Independiente Medellín
*Categoría Primera A: 2016 Categoría Primera A season#Finals, 2016 Apertura

Los Angeles FC
* Supporters' Shield: 2019 Major League Soccer season, 2019
* U.S. Open Cup: 2024 U.S. Open Cup, 2024

Palmeiras
*Recopa Sudamericana: 2022 Recopa Sudamericana, 2022
*Campeonato Paulista: 2022 Campeonato Paulista, 2022, 2023 Campeonato Paulista, 2023
*Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 2022, 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, 2023
*Supercopa do Brasil: 2023 Supercopa do Brasil, 2023
*FIFA Club World Cup runners-up: 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, 2021

Individual
* MLS Best XI: 2019 Major League Soccer season, 2019
* MLS All-Star Game, MLS All-Star: 2021 MLS All-Star Game, 2021

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Atuesta, Eduard
1997 births
Living people
Footballers from Santander Department
Colombian men's footballers
Colombia men's international footballers
Colombia men's under-20 international footballers
21st-century Colombian sportsmen
Men's association football midfielders
Independiente Medellín footballers
Los Angeles FC players
SE Palmeiras players
Categoría Primera A players
Major League Soccer players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Colombian expatriate men's footballers
Colombian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Expatriate men's footballers in Brazil
Designated Players (MLS)