Benji Joya
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Héctor Benjamín Joya Jiménez | ||
| Date of birth | September 22, 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | San Jose, California, United States | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sporting Kansas City | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2011 | De Anza Force | ||
| 2011–2012 | Santos Laguna | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Santos Laguna | 4 | (0) |
| 2014 | → Chicago Fire (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | → Club Necaxa (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2016– | Sporting Kansas City | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2012–2013 | United States U20 | 19 | (4) |
| 2014– | United States U23 | 4 | (1) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of February 26, 2015. | |||
Héctor Benjamín "Benji" Joya Jiménez (born September 22, 1993) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City.
Club career
Santos Laguna
Joya, who grew up in the Bay Area of California, was played in the USSF Development Academy for De Anza Force. In early 2012, he joined Santos Laguna's organization. He began during the 2012 Clausura with the club's U-20 team. In September 2012, the midfielder made his first team debut in a Liga MX match.[1]
Chicago Fire
Joya was loaned to Chicago Fire with an option to buy ahead of the 2014 MLS season. Joya made his MLS debut in 2014, as a 63rd-minute substitute, when his side were down 2-0. Seconds later after making his way onto the field, a deflected shot from Chivas USA keeper landed in front of him. He scored a left-footed shot inside the six yard box to add Fire onto the board making it 2-1. That was Joya's first MLS touch and only league goal of the season for him.[2]
Club Necaxa
Joya is loaned to Club Necaxa of the Ascenso MX.
Sporting Kansas City
Joya signed with Sporting Kansas City on September 15, 2016 before the MLS Roster Freeze.[3]
International career
Joya was a member of the United States U-20 squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[4]
References
- ↑ http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/joya-a-promising-u-s-player-makes-a-mark-in-mexico/?ref=global
- ↑ http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2014/02/release-chicago-fire-soccer-club-acquires-midfielder-benji-joya
- ↑ http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/15/sporting-kansas-city-sign-former-us-u-20-midfielder-benji-joya
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-05.