LaLiga Eyes U.S. Amateur Soccer as American Talent Breaks Through in Spain

LaLiga EA Sports, widely regarded as one of the top football leagues in the world, is increasingly turning its attention to amateur and collegiate soccer in the United States. As reported by Diario AS, Spanish clubs are now tapping into the American grassroots pipeline—and early returns are promising.

A standout example is Ivorian midfielder Yan Diomande, who trained at Florida’s DME Academy and was playing in the U.S. fourth division as recently as 2024. Now 18, he made his LaLiga debut for CD Leganés earlier this year against Real Madrid, and recently scored his first goal in a crucial win over Espanyol that helped the club move out of the relegation zone.

Another success story is Álvaro García Pascual, a Spanish striker who played college soccer at Marshall University in the U.S. Sevilla signed him in 2024 for their reserve squad, and he eventually broke into the first team, debuting against RC Celta de Vigo in December.

These cases highlight LaLiga’s growing commitment to scouting in the American amateur and collegiate system. No longer focused solely on established U.S. stars like Christian Pulisic or Gio Reyna, Spanish clubs are now finding value in players developed far from traditional European academies—and it's paying off.