Table of Contents
Edited: 12/30/25 - Charlotte FC officially signed ex-SDFC midfielder Luca de la Torre.
After failed contract talks with San Diego, De la Torre, who spent the 2025 campaign on loan at SDFC from Celta Vigo, will now head east, with San Diego set to receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money for his MLS rights.
While his stay in San Diego was short, de la Torre’s impact during the club’s historic debut season won’t be forgotten by the fanbase. The 27-year-old featured 37 times across all competitions as SDFC stormed to the top of the Western Conference and pushed all the way to the conference final — the most successful expansion season MLS has seen in the modern era.
🇺🇸 Sources: Charlotte FC is set to sign USMNT midfielder Luca de la Torre from Celta Vigo.
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 27, 2025
LDLT spent 2025 on loan with San Diego. SDFC receives $50k GAM for his MLS rights.
LDLT, 27, made 37 apps for San Diego last season.https://t.co/q4tkXVpoxj
For large stretches of the year, de la Torre was a trusted piece in Mikey Varas’ midfield rotation, offering composure on the ball and a steady link between lines. As the season wore on, his role shifted and minutes became harder to come by, but his contributions helped set the foundation for the club’s breakthrough year.
The club decided to extend Onni Valakari's contract and the writing was on the wall for de la Torre. His contract was deemed too high to meet for the role he was going to play in 2026. The front office felt there were more cost-effective options internally and potentially in the transfer market.
On the international stage, de la Torre remains very much in the U.S. men’s national team picture, sitting on 32 senior caps. He missed out on the final USMNT call-ups of 2025, but a strong run with Charlotte could keep his World Cup ambitions alive.
From an SDFC perspective, this move is another reminder of how quickly the club has become a destination — and a showcase — for high-level talent. Charlotte will hope de la Torre adds technical quality and ball progression to their midfield under Dean Smith, while San Diego turns the page with allocation money in hand and eyes firmly set on building off a landmark first season.
As for the faithful at Snapdragon Stadium, de la Torre’s exit is a stark reminder of how quickly players who were household names can (and will) move on.
