Xavi Gnaulati

Xavi Milad Gnaulati (born January 22, 2005) is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Monterey Bay FC.

Xavi Gnaulati

Gnaulati with San Diego Loyal in February 2023
Personal information
Full name	Xavi Milad Gnaulati
Date of birth	(2005-01-22) January 22, 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth	San Diego, California, United States
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Monterey Bay
Number	99
Youth career
2010–2023	San Diego Surf
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	San Diego Loyal	6	(2)
2024–	Monterey Bay	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 23, 2023

Early career

Xavi Gnaulati was born and raised in San Diego County, California, playing youth soccer for San Diego Surf and winning the State Cup Championship with them in 2014.^[1] On July 1, 2023, Gnaulati scored in the final to help Surf win the ECNL National Championship.^[2]

Club career

San Diego Loyal

In April 2021, Gnaulati joined San Diego Loyal in the USL Championship and their inaugural USL Academy team, Loyal Select.^[3][4][5] He first played for the club in a training match against MLS side LA Galaxy in March 2021 and made his public debut as a substitute in a friendly match against Liga MX side Club Tijuana on July 10.^[6][7][8]

Gnaulati made his professional debut for San Diego Loyal on April 6, 2022, during the 2022 season, at the age of 17 under manager Landon Donovan in the Loyal's inaugural U.S. Open Cup match against NISA side Albion San Diego, starting the match and playing 79 minutes before being substituted for Alejandro Guido in a 2–1 win.^[9][10]

Gnaulati made his first appearance of the 2023 season in his following competitive match for the club, winning a penalty as well as providing a secondary assist for a 2–0 win during their 2023 U.S. Open Cup opener against Albion San Diego on April 5, 2023.^[11] Following a substitute appearance in a friendly match against German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on July 27, Gnaulati signed his first professional contract with San Diego Loyal the following day on July 28.^[12][13][14]

Gnaulati was given his USL Championship debut on August 9, 2023, at the age of 18 against Loudoun United at Torero Stadium during the 2023 season.^[15]

Gnaulati scored his first professional goal on September 20, scoring a brace in the 90th and 90+3rd minute of a league game in a 3–2 comeback win against Monterey Bay FC at Cardinale Stadium.^[16][17] He was subsequently named in the Team of the Week for his performance.^[18]

Monterey Bay

Gnaulati became a free agent following the folding of San Diego Loyal after the 2023 USL Championship season. He joined Monterey Bay FC on December 6, 2023, on a one-year contract, with an option for a second year, ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season.^[19]

International career

Youth

In January 2019, Gnaulati was called up for the United States under-14 camp in Carson, California.^[20] He was called up again for a United States youth team camp in May 2021.^[21][22]

Career statistics

As of October 23, 2023^[23]

Club	Division	Season	League		Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
San Diego Loyal SC	USL Championship	2021	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
		2022	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
		2023	6	2	2	0	0	0	8	2
Career total			6	2	3	0	0	0	9	2

Honours

San Diego Surf

• Elite Clubs National League: 2023^[2]

References

1. "Comeback kids clinch soccer crown". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
2. "ECNL Boys Playoffs: San Diego Surf win U19s | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
3. "San Diego Loyal sign 4 local players". FOX 5 San Diego. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
4. "16-YEAR-OLD SAN DIEGO PLAYER GNAULATI SIGNS WITH SD LOYAL • SoccerToday". SoccerToday. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
5. Slane, Bill (2021-04-15). "The Coast News Group". The Coast News Group. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
6. "'Mind-Blowing' Fortune: Loyal Teen Signee Scored Goal vs. MLS Galaxy". Times of San Diego. 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
7. "San Diego Loyal Plays to 1-0 Loss in Friendly with Club Tijuana in Night of Fútbol at USD". OurSports Central. 2021-07-10. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
8. "SD LOYAL SC FOLLOWS UP XOLOS GAME WITH ORANGE COUNTY SC MATCHUP • SoccerToday". SoccerToday. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
9. "ASC San Diego vs. San Diego Loyal SC - Football Match Line-Ups - April 6, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
10. @SanDiegoLoyal (April 7, 2022). "Allow us to introduce ourselves..." (Tweet). Retrieved 2023-03-06 – via Twitter.
11. "SD Loyal Advances to U.S. Open Cup Third Round After 2-0 Win vs. Albion San Diego".
12. "Loyal's starters hang with German powerhouse in nationally-televised match at Snapdragon Stadium". 28 July 2023.
13. "SD Loyal Signs Loyal Select Player Xavi Gnaulati to Professional Contract".
14. "San Diego Loyal signs Encinitas high schooler Xavi Gnaulati to professional contract". 28 July 2023.
15. https://twitter.com/SanDiegoLoyal/status/1689459937804722176
16. https://www.uslchampionship.com/montereybay-sandiegoloyal-2345967
17. https://www.montereyherald.com/2023/09/20/pro-soccer-union-suffer-crushing-loss-to-san-diego/
18. https://www.uslchampionship.com/news_article/show/1285627
19. "Monterey Bay F.C. Signs 18-Year-Old Former San Diego Loyal SC Midfielder Xavi Gnaulati". Monterey Bay Football Club | USL Championship. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
20. "Eighty Players Called in for YNT U-14 TID West Region Mini-Camp". www.ussoccer.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
21. McHugh, Alana (17 May 2021). "TWENTY Surf Players Called Up to YNT Camps!". San Diego Surf Soccer Club. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
22. "YNT Regional ID 2005 - Southern Cal | Club Soccer | Youth Soccer". TopDrawerSoccer.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
23. "USA - X. Gnaulati - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".

External links

• Xavi Gnaulati at Soccerway