SSFC Spotlight: Santiago Castañeda hits the ground running in Europe

Young players are typically not expected to jump into the heat of the action when signing an initial professional contract, particularly when heading abroad. However, sometimes the circumstances are ideal for a new inclusion to step into the lineup and begin the career journey in earnest. Santiago “Santi” Castañeda has enjoyed a strong first season after joining MSV Duisburg in Germany. The 19-year-old dual-national midfielder is picking up plenty of experience and could be on the move again this summer.

Born in Tampa, Florida to a father who was a professional soccer player in Colombia, Castañeda played with Tampa Bay United and Florida Premier FC in the Elite Clubs National League and the United Premier Soccer League; accolades included Man of the Match in a National Selection Game along with National Training Camp Best XI and Florida All-Conference. Additionally, his performances with Tampa Preparatory School earned Florida’s Gatorade High School Player of the Year, Class 3A State Player of the Year, and various All-American awards after contributing 16 goals and 16 assists and scoring the game-winning goal in the 2022 FHSAA Class 3A State Championship; the program compiled a 21-0 record and finished the season ranked first in the nation by Max Preps. The midfielder also traveled to Europe with the Cappelli Sport All-Star Team that competed against “youth sides from pro teams based in Greece, Denmark, and Poland,” a scouting opportunity that bore fruit down the road.

Switching to online learning, Castañeda moved to the Tampa Bay Rowdies and signed a USL Academy contract that maintained his college eligibility. The transition to the professional level was “very comfortable” in spite of feeling “kind of weird” and “overwhelming” during the first few weeks. His debut came in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, playing 17 minutes in a 6-0 victory over amateur side The Villages SC (now Brave SC), followed by a single-minute appearance in a USL Championship match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. After the breakthrough, his nearest inclusion was being named to the matchday squad for a late-season fixture, but the manager noted “great progression.”

Despite signing a new academy contract with Tampa Bay and committing to the University of Michigan, Castañeda joined MSV Duisburg (scouted during the aforementioned trip to Europe) of the German 3. Liga following a trial. “My parents always said that everyone in life gets an opportunity,” he told Fox 13 Tampa Bay. “Whenever it comes you’ve got to be ready. My whole life I’ve wanted to play pro soccer and when I got that call, I was just super happy. There’s definitely some nerves moving to a whole different country overseas. I’ve been with my parents my whole life, so it’s definitely going to be something new. I think, in my life, I need something new like this to change.”

Castañeda began his debut season with the reserves but quickly moved into a starting role with the first team, thriving in one of the two “double-six” roles and picking up the German language off of the field. He has featured in 29 matches for Duisburg while also missing a fixture due to yellow card accumulation. His first professional goal came in an early December 1-0 victory over VfB Lübeck, “hammering home an unsuccessful attempt at a clearance” — the 92^nd-minute effort secured three points and earned the league’s Player of the Matchday from one publication.

Unfortunately, Die Zebras (The Zebras) are stuck in 18^th place with 33 points from 36 matches, ignominiously clinching relegation to the fourth-tier Regionalliga. Continuing as a starter following a manager change, his current deal lasts through June of 2025 but “is not valid for the regional league,” which should allow the teenager to leave the club as a free agent. Perhaps emblematic of the current situation, Castañeda’s assist and 56^th-minute goal boosted his side to a 3-1 lead over 19^th-place VfB Lübeck, only for the opponents to come roaring back and claim a 5-3 victory.

In the midst of a down season, Duisburg has provided a welcoming environment in which to begin his professional career. “I was not expecting [to become a starter so quickly],” he shared with RevierSport. “I learned a lot and continued to improve. I work hard for the team every day. They help me extremely. I’m here in my first professional team. It’s the toughest situation of my career. But as a young player, I also learn through difficulties.”

At the international level, Castañeda holds citizenship with the United States and Colombia. The former program invited him to train with the U-14 and U-15 age groups. With a November 2004 birthday, he is ineligible for the upcoming CONCACAF U-20 Championship and 2025 U-20 World Cup, missing the cutoff by two months.

Standing at 6’3”, Castañeda is a lean and rangy defensive midfielder who can also line up in an advanced role and at centre-back with a hard-working nature and “great awareness on the field.” Coaches have also praised his maturity, potential, flexibility, and “high level of comprehension.” He is a heavy tackler with an aggressive streak and manages to create chances, both from the run of play and on the counter-attack, with a stated preference for “being a playmaker.”

“He [takes] the ball very well and [puts] it in with conviction,” said former Duisburg manager Boris Schommers. “For his young age, he is calm on the ball, has a good overview and always finds solutions in high-pressure situations. He has to continue on this path and of course optimize many areas.”

Castañeda enjoyed about as seamless an adaptation to the professional game and moving abroad as a player can hope to expect. With Duisburg headed for relegation, he faces a tough decision on his future and will likely be forced to claim his place in a new environment. However, the midfielder already earned far more minutes than most other members of his age cohort and should be an intriguing American talent to monitor in the coming years.