# Aaron Herrera (footballer)

Aaron Joseph Herrera (born 6 June 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club D.C. United. Born in the United States, he plays for the Guatemala national team.

## Early career

Herrera played three years of college soccer at the University of New Mexico between 2015 and 2017, scoring 20 goals and tallying 8 assists in 54 appearances.
Herrera also played with Premier Development League side FC Tucson in 2016 and 2017.

## Professional career

On 15 December 2017, Herrera signed as a Homegrown Player for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.
On 21 December 2022, Herrera was traded to CF Montréal for $500,000 in General Allocation Money, a 2023 international roster spot, Montréal's 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick and a sell-on fee.
On 12 December 2023, D.C. United acquired Herrera from CF Montréal in exchange for Brazilian defender Ruan and $500,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money. During his maiden season with the club, Herrera was named to the 2024 MLS All-Star Team.

## International career
### United States

Internationally, Herrera had represented the United States U20s. In January 2021, Herrera made one appearance for the senior United States in a 7–0 friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago.
He was named to the final 20-player United States under-23 roster for the 2020 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Championship in March 2021.

### Guatemala

In June 2023, Herrera was named to Guatemala's preliminary squad ahead of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He made his Guatemala debut on 15 June in a friendly match against Costa Rica.

## Personal life

Herrera was born in the United States to a Guatemalan father, Diego Herrera and American mother, Donni Herrera.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 March 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 |
| Real Monarchs | 2018 | United Soccer League | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2018 | Major League Soccer | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 32 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2020 | Major League Soccer | 20 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2021 | Major League Soccer | 29 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2022 | Major League Soccer | 27 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | Total | Total | 124 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 135 | 1 |
| CF Montréal | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 |
| D.C. United | 2024 | Major League Soccer | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 1 |
| D.C. United | 2025 | Major League Soccer | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| D.C. United | Total | Total | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 181 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 199 | 2 |
* ↑ Appearance in U.S. Open Cup
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
* 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
* ↑ Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
* ↑ Appearances in Canadian Championship

### International

    As of match played 15 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| United States | 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| United States | Total | 1 | 0 |
| Guatemala | 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| Guatemala | 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| Guatemala | Total | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | 13 | 0 |

## Honours

United States U20
* CONCACAF Under-20 Championship: 2017
Individual
* MLS All-Star: 2024