Omar Valencia

Omar Valencia
Valencia in 2025
Personal information
Full name Omar Javier Valencia Arauz
Date of birth (2004-06-08) 8 June 2004 (age 22)
Place of birth Panama City, Panama
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 New York Red Bulls
Number 5
Youth career
C.D. Plaza Amador
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2024 C.D. Plaza Amador 8 (0)
2022– → New York Red Bulls II (loan) 45 (0)
2024– New York Red Bulls 33 (0)
International career‡
2022 Panama U20 5 (0)
2023– Panama 6 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:24, 22 August 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 October 2026

Omar Javier Valencia Arauz (born 8 June 2004) is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club New York Red Bulls and the Panama national team.

Career

C.D. Plaza Amador

Born in Panama City, Valencia began his career with Panamanian club C.D. Plaza Amador. He graduated from Plaza Amador's youth setup, and made his senior debut during the 2022 Torneo Apertura. On 6 February 2022, Valencia made his league debut on matchday 1 in a 4–3 victory over Potros del Este.

Loan to New York Red Bulls II

On 11 August 2022, Valencia was loaned to Red Bulls II for the remainder of the 2022 season, their last in USL Championship. Valencia made his debut for the team on 1 October 2022, against Phoenix Rising FC.

On 8 February 2023, Red Bulls II exercised their option to extend Valencia's loan through the 2023 season, the team's first in MLS Next Pro.

On 20 March 2024, Valencia made his U.S. Open Cup debut, appearing as a starter for New York Red Bulls II in a 5–1 victory over Hudson Valley Hammers in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Omar Valencia with the New York Red Bulls in 2025

Loan to New York Red Bulls

On 23 March 2024, Valencia and Mohammed Sofo were both called-up to the senior New York Red Bulls roster on a short-term loan ahead of the team's Major League Soccer match against Inter Miami. On 8 June 2024, Valencia made his debut for Red Bulls, coming on in the 89th minute for Daniel Edelman.

New York Red Bulls

On 9 December 2024, New York Red Bulls announced the signing of Valencia to a first team contract. Valencia began the 2025 campaign as a starter for New York. On 1 March 2025, he recorded his first assist for the club, assisting on Emil Forsberg's goal in a 2–0 victory over Nashville SC. Valencia was selected to the MLS team of the week for matchday 7, following his performance on 5 April 2025 in a 2–1 win against Chicago Fire, a match in which he assisted on Serge Ngoma's equalizer.

International career

Valencia was featured in Panama's squad at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, earning four caps throughout the tournament. On 6 July 2023, Valencia was called up to senior Panama national team for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 22 August 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Plaza Amador 2022 Liga LPF 80———80
New York Red Bulls II (loan) 2022 USL Championship 3000—0030
New York Red Bulls II 2023 MLS Next Pro 15000—20170
2024 MLS Next Pro 20020—00220
2025 MLS Next Pro 1000—0010
2026 MLS Next Pro 8000——80
Total 47020—20510
New York Red Bulls 2024 MLS 10———10
2025 MLS 20010—10220
2026 MLS 12010——130
Total 33020—10360
Career total 880400030950
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in MLS Next Pro play-offs
  3. ↑ Appearance in Leagues Cup

International

As of match played 5 October 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Panama 202210
202310
202410
202631
Total61
List of international goals scored by Omar Valencia
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 September 2026Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, India India1–11–1Friendly

Honours

Panama

References

  1. ↑ "Apertura 2022 de la Liga Panameña de Fútbol: resultados y la tabla de posiciones tras las fecha 1". futbolcentroamerica.com. 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "New York Red Bulls II Add Defender Omar Valencia on Loan from C.D. Plaza Amador". newyorkredbulls.com. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "New York Red Bulls II Extend Loan of Panamanian Defender Omar Valencia". newyorkredbulls.com. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "NYRBII- Hudson Valley (5-1)". espn.com.
  5. ↑ "New York Red Bulls Add NYRB II Midfielder Mohammed Sofo and Defender Omar Valencia on Short-Term Loan Agreements Ahead of Inter Miami CF Match". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "MLS: El panameño Omar Valencia hace su debut con el New York Red Bulls". RPC TV. 9 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "New York Red Bulls sign Omar Valencia from MLS Next Pro". mlssoccer.com. MLS Soccer. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Red Bulls Roll to 2-0 Home Victory at Sports Illustrated Stadium". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "RCarlos Coronel, Omar Valencia Named to MLS Team of the Matchday". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "New York Red Bulls II Defender Omar Valencia Called Up to Panama National Team for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup". 6 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  11. ↑ "O. Valencia". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Mexico 1-0 Panama (Jul 16, 2023) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 27 March 2025.