Diego Fagundez joined Austin FC ahead of the Club's inaugural season in 2021 and quickly established himself as a fan favorite. He scored the first goal in Austin FC history on April 24, 2021 in a 3-1 away win over Colorado Rapids, and as of the start of the 2022 season, was the Club’s all-time leader in appearances having featured in every match except one (1) in Austin FC's first two seasons.
Fagundez is also the Club’s all-time leader in assists. His 15 assists during the 2022 season were second-most in Major League Soccer, to go with six (6) goals scored including two (2) direct free kicks. The Club announced that it had to agreed to a long-term contract extension with Fagundez on February 22, 2023, keeping him in Verde & Black through 2025 with an additional option for 2026.
Fagundez is one (1) of only 13 players in MLS history to record at least 60 career goals and 60 career assists, a landmark which he reached on August 6, 2022. His 328 career MLS appearances rank 35th all-time and 12th among active players.
Before joining Austin FC, Fagundez spent his entire career with New England Revolution, for whom he initially signed as a Homegrown Player in 2010 at age 15. He made his MLS debut the following year as a 16-year-old, and went on to record 53 goals and 45 assists in 265 league games for the Revolution.
Fagundez, who was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and grew up in Leominster, Masschutsetts, made four (4) appearances (two (2) starts) with the U-20 Uruguay National Team during the 2015 Campeonato Sudamericano Sub-20, helping the country qualify for its 12th U-20 FIFA World Cup.
