In an Instagram photo, Carpinteria’s Johnny Requejo poses next to the logo of his new team, Club Tijuana, of Mexico’s First Division.
Johnny Requejo’s life has changed considerably since leading Carpinteria High’s boys soccer team to the CIF-SS finals three years ago.
He’s traveled the world as a member of U.S. Soccer age-group teams and has played against some outstanding players.
On Thursday, Requejo became a professional soccer player. He signed with Club Tijuana of Mexico’s First Division, and will play with the professional club’s Under-20 team.
Requejo, who had a scholarship with UCLA, joins U.S. teammates Paul Arriola and Armando Moreno with the club that is nicknamed the Xolos
Requejo has been part of the U.S. national age-group program since he was 13. He left Carpinteria after his freshman year to train full-time with the U17 squad that was preparing for the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. The team failed to qualify for the finals.
He stayed with the U.S. program and played in tournaments with the U18s and U20s.
Club Tijuana says Requejo’s “defensive and offensive capabilities will be a welcome integration into the U-20 back line, and he could even see some first team minutes as a sub for Greg Garza. “Head coach Cesar Farias has been known to give the younger players opportunities to feature in first-team games as subs.”
Requejo excelled at left fullback for the U.S.
