# Diego Palacios

Diego José Palacios Espinoza (born 12 July 1999), commonly known as "Chiqui", is an Ecuadorian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Corinthians and the Ecuador national team.
During the 2020 CONCACAF Champions Cup, he won the award for Best Young Player.

## Club career
### Early career

Born in Guayaquil, Palacios made his senior debut with Deportivo Azogues in the 2014 Segunda Categoría. After a short period at Norte América, he moved to Aucas in 2016 after both clubs had a partnership.
Palacios spent a season with the youth sides before making his first team debut for Aucas in 2017, in the Ecuadorian Serie B. A regular starter, he helped the club in their promotion to the Ecuadorian Serie A, and made his debut in the category in 2018.

### Willem II

In July 2018 he agreed a season long loan with Willem II. He made his debut in the Dutch Eredivisie on 11 August 2018 playing the full 90 minutes against VVV-Venlo.

### Los Angeles FC

On 12 August 2019, Palacios signed a contract with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC.

### Corinthians

On 2 January 2024, Palacios was announced at Corinthians.

## International career

In October 2018 he made his debut for the Ecuador national team in a friendly game against the Qatar national team.
Palacios was selected in the 28 player Ecuador squad for the 2021 Copa América.
Palacios was named in the Ecuadorian squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 1 February 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Deportivo Azogues | 2014 | Segunda Categoría | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Norte América | 2015 | Segunda Categoría | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Aucas | 2016 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Aucas | 2017 | Ecuadorian Serie B | 40 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | 1 |
| Aucas | 2018 | Ecuadorian Serie A | 23 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 1 |
| Aucas | Total | Total | 63 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | 2 |
| Willem II (loan) | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 0 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 18 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2021 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 0 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| Los Angeles FC | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 29 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 0 |
| Los Angeles FC | Total | Total | 104 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 131 | 1 |
| Corinthians | 2024 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Corinthians | 2025 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Corinthians | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 201 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 247 | 3 |
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Campeonato Provincial de Segunda Categoría de Guayas
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
* ↑ Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
* ↑ Two appearances in Leagues Cup, one appearance in Campeones Cup, five appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

### International

    As of 12 November 2022
Ecuador :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 12 | 0 |

## Honours

Los Angeles FC
* MLS Cup: 2022
* Supporters' Shield: 2022
* CONCACAF Champions League runner-up: 2020
Ecuador U20
* U-20 South American Championship: 2019
* FIFA U-20 World Cup third place: 2019
Individual
* South American Youth Championship Team of the Tournament: 2019
* CONCACAF Champions League Best Young Player: 2020
* CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2020, 2023
* MLS All-Star: 2022