Omar Valencia
Panamanian footballer (born 2004)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Omar Javier Valencia Arauz (born 8 June 2004) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls and the Panama national team.
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Valencia in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Omar Javier Valencia Arauz | ||
| Date of birth | 8 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Panama City, Panama | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | New York Red Bulls | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| C.D. Plaza Amador | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022– | C.D. Plaza Amador | 8 | (0) |
| 2022– | → New York Red Bulls II (loan) | 39 | (0) |
| 2024– | New York Red Bulls | 21 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Panama U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2023– | Panama | 3 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:31, 24 October 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 July 2024 | |||
Career
C.D. Plaza Amador
Born in Panama City, Valencia began his career with Panamanian club C.D. Plaza Amador. He graduated from Plaza Amador's youth setup, and made his senior debut during the 2022 Torneo Apertura. On 6 February 2022, Valencia made his league debut on matchday 1 in a 4–3 victory over Potros del Este.[1]
Loan to New York Red Bulls II
On 11 August 2022, Valencia was loaned to Red Bulls II for the remainder of the 2022 season, their last in USL Championship.[2] Valencia made his debut for the team on 1 October 2022, against Phoenix Rising FC.
On 8 February 2023, Red Bulls II exercised their option to extend Valencia's loan through the 2023 season, the team's first in MLS Next Pro.[3]
On 20 March 2024, Valencia made his U.S. Open Cup debut, appearing as a starter for New York Red Bulls II in a 5–1 victory over Hudson Valley Hammers in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.[4]
Loan to New York Red Bulls
On 23 March 2024, Valencia and Mohammed Sofo were both called-up to the senior New York Red Bulls roster on a short-term loan ahead of the team's Major League Soccer match against Inter Miami.[5] On 8 June 2024, Valencia made his debut for Red Bulls, coming on in the 89th minute for Daniel Edelman.[6]
New York Red Bulls
On 9 December 2024, New York Red Bulls announced the signing of Valencia to a first team contract.[7] Valencia began the 2025 campaign as a starter for New York. On 1 March 2025, he recorded his first assist for the club, assisting on Emil Forsberg's goal in a 2–0 victory over Nashville SC.[8] Valencia was selected to the MLS team of the week for matchday 7, following his performance on 5 April 2025 in a 2–1 win against Chicago Fire, a match in which he assisted on Serge Ngoma's equalizer.[9]
International career
Valencia was featured in Panama's squad at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, earning four caps throughout the tournament. On 6 July 2023, Valencia was called up to senior Panama national team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 19 October 2025[11]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Plaza Amador | 2022 | Liga Panameña de Fútbol | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| New York Red Bulls II (loan) | 2022 | USL Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| New York Red Bulls II | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[b] | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | MLS Next Pro | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 | |||
| New York Red Bulls | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2025 | Major League Soccer | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Total | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 68 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 3 | ||
- Includes U.S. Open Cup
- Appearances in MLS Next Pro play-offs
- Appearance in Leagues Cup
International
- As of match played 6 July 2024
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 3 | 0 | |
Honours
Panama
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2023[12]