GALVAN-MERCADO BECOMES THE YOUNGEST PROFESSIONAL PLAYER IN CLUB HISTORY
PAPILLION, Neb. (February 8, 2022) – Union Omaha announced today that Yoskar Galvan-Mercado will return to the club for the 2022 campaign, this time, signed as a pro. The signing, pending league and federation approval, makes Galvan-Mercado the youngest professional player in club history after Galvan-Mercado was the team’s first academy contract upon joining the club in August 2021.
Galvan-Mercado is a 2021 Lexington High School graduate who also played with Gretna’s Elite Academy. While at Lexington from 2017-21, Galvan-Mercado was named to the 2021 Boys Super-State Second Team and the Boys Class B All-State team.
Galvan-Mercado was one of 15 players from several Nebraska and Iowa high schools that Head Coach Jay Mims put together in the fall of 2019 for a United Soccer League (USL) Academy Cup tournament in San Antonio, Texas. This was the first-ever group to wear the Union Omaha crest and represent Nebraska at a USL event.
“We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting process for Yoskar as he has a bright future ahead and his dream has become a reality,” said Head Coach Jay Mims. “Through the Union Omaha and USL partnership with Bellevue University, he will now be able to continue his education while playing professional soccer, which was important to all of us.”
“I’m thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to sign my first professional contract,” said Galvan-Mercado. “It’s been my dream since I was a little kid, and I’m making this dream a reality. I can’t wait to be able to play in front of our amazing fanbase again – Viva Búhos!”
Phonetic pronunciation of name: [YO-SCAR GAL-VAHN – MUR-CAH-DOH]
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 121 lbs
Born: Lexington, Neb.
Hometown: Lexington, Neb.
The 2022 championship defending campaign is set to begin on April 9 with a visit to Forward Madison FC. The home opener at Werner Park is set for April 23 vs. USL1 newcomer Central Valley Fuego FC. Season tickets and undated voucher packs for the 2022 season are currently available via UnionOmaha.com or the Werner Park Ticket Office by calling 402-738-5100.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champion, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and by Head Coach Jay Mims on the field.