# Danny Leyva

Daniel Ulises Leyva (born May 5, 2003) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

## Club career

Leyva was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada; his father Ulises had played in the youth academy of Club América in Mexico City, but left the sport to pursue a career in civil engineering. Leyva played for the Barcelona USA Academy in Las Vegas before joining the Seattle Sounders FC Academy at the age of 13. Leyva was placed on Seattle's under-15 team ahead of the 2017–18 season, but was later moved to the under-17 squad.

### Seattle Sounders FC

He made his debut for the Sounders reserve team in the United Soccer League (USL) on September 29, 2018, during a 3–1 loss to San Antonio FC, becoming the second-youngest player in league history. Leyva signed a full USL contract with the team the following month and began training with the senior team during the 2019 preseason, appearing in friendlies against the Portland Timbers and Club Nacional. Leyva signed a homegrown contract with Seattle Sounders FC on April 9, 2019, becoming the youngest player in the team's history. He made his first-team debut on June 5, 2019, as a late substitute during an away loss to the Montreal Impact, becoming the third-youngest player in the league's history. Leyva played in 12 matches during the 2022 season and had two assists as a temporary replacement for injured midfielders João Paulo and Obed Vargas until they returned mid-season.

#### Loan to Colorado Rapids

On April 24, 2023, the Sounders loaned Leyva to the Colorado Rapids for the rest of the season in exchange for a future MLS SuperDraft pick and $92,000 in general allocation money.

## International career

In October 2019, Leyva was named to the United States squad for the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
Leyva who has only played for U.S. youth national teams, also holds the option to be called up by Mexico.

## Personal life

Born in the United States, Leyva is of Mexican descent.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played October 7, 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2018 | USL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2019 | USL | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2020 | USL | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2021 | USL | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2024 | MLS Next Pro | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | Total | Total | 36 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 3 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2019 | MLS | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2020 | MLS | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2021 | MLS | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2022 | MLS | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2023 | MLS | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2024 | MLS | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2025 | MLS | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Total | Total | 66 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 81 | 0 |
| Colorado Rapids (loan) | 2023 | MLS | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 118 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 136 | 3 |
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
* ↑ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
* ↑ Appearance in Leagues Cup

## Honors

Seattle Sounders FC
* MLS Cup: 2019
* CONCACAF Champions League: 2022
Individual
* CONCACAF U-17 Championship Best XI: 2019