Axel Agustín Ojeda (born 19 June 2004) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Axel Agustín Ojeda[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 19 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina[2] | ||
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | New York City | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2022 | Racing | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Racing | 17 | (2) |
| 2024– | New York City | 9 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2019 | Argentina U15 | ||
| Argentina U17 | |||
| 2021– | Argentina U20 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:00, 15 May 2024 (UTC) | |||
Early life
editOjeda was born in Rosario in the Santa Fe Province of Argentina, and raised in the neighbourhood of Tablada, one of the most dangerous areas of the city.[3]
Club career
editOjeda was spotted by Racing scout Jorge García in 2015, while García was on a scouting assignment in Rosario.[3] García had initially gone to watch local team Alianza Sport, but Ojeda, as well as teammate Lautaro Ronchi, who were both playing for the opposition side, caught his eye.[3] Despite receiving interest from Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central, he eventually joined the academy of Racing.[3]
Having progressed through the academy, he was called up to the first team by manager Fernando Gago ahead of a Copa de la Liga Profesional fixture against Atlético Tucumán on 14 March 2022, and made his professional debut for the club in the 4–0 away win when he replaced Enzo Copetti late in the second half.[4] Following the game, Ojeda would not feature for the first team again, with Gago stating in August 2023 that Ojeda had made a "mistake", and was sent to train with the reserves.[5] It was later reported that Ojeda had arrived late to training on more than one occasion, hence his demotion.[3]
The following season, he was handed his first start by Gago, and repaid his manager's trust with his first goal in professional football against Central Córdoba on 24 July 2023. Playing on the left wing, he latched on to a through-ball from Tomás Avilés before placing the ball underneath goalkeeper Matías Mansilla to make the score 2–0 in Racing's eventual 3–1 victory.[6]
On 10 August 2023, Ojeda was named as a starter again ahead of Racing's Copa Libertadores tie against Colombian opposition Atlético Nacional. Five minutes into the second half, with the score 1–0 in Racing's favour, Ojeda doubled his side's advantage; dribbling from the right wing into the penalty area, he slid the ball under goalkeeper Harlen Castillo as Racing went on to win 3–0.[7]
On 2 February 2024, Ojeda signed with Major League Soccer side New York City on a five-year deal for an undisclosed transfer fee.[8]
International career
editOjeda has represented Argentina at under-15, under-17 and under-20 level.[3][7]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of 13 September 2023[9]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Racing | 2022 | Argentine Primera División | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 1 | 2[b] | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 5[c] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | ||
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Copa de la Liga Profesional
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Argentina
- ^ Appearances in the Copa Libertadores
References
edit- ^ a b "Agustín Ojeda". racingclub.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Agustín Ojeda at WorldFootball.net
- ^ a b c d e f Uria, Maximiliano (30 August 2023). "Agustín Ojeda, el nuevo Ángel Correa que hace soñar a Racing en el duelo ante Boca por la Copa Libertadores" [Agustín Ojeda, the new Ángel Correa who makes Racing dream in the duel against Boca for the Copa Libertadores]. clarin.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Rodríguez, Burgos (14 March 2022). "Primeras luces de Agustín Ojeda" [First lights of Agustín Ojeda]. argentina.as.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ Zuberman, Nicolás (21 August 2023). "Racing: Agustín Ojeda, la joya de 19 años de la Academia que aprendió de sus errores y ahora no para de gambetear" [Racing: Agustín Ojeda, the 19-year-old jewel of the Academy who learned from his mistakes and now doesn't stop dribbling]. lanacion.com.ar (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "El debut soñado de Agustín Ojeda como titular en Racing: gol y ovación de la hinchada" [Agustín Ojeda's dream debut as a starter in Racing: goal and applause from the fans]. tycsports.com (in Spanish). 24 July 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Quién es Agustín Ojeda, el pibe maravilla que brilló en la heroica clasificación de Racing" [Who is Agustín Ojeda, the wonder kid who shone in the heroic Racing classification]. elgrafico.com.ar (in Spanish). 11 August 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "New York City FC Acquires Forward Agustín Ojeda from Racing Club".
- ^ Agustín Ojeda at Soccerway