Mateo Tolmos '27 Recruiting Profile

Since I was a child, soccer has been my passion and my driving force for growth both on and off the field. I currently play as a center-back for Universitario de Deportes, the most successful club in Peruvian soccer history. I have had the honor of serving as team captain multiple times, leading my team in national and international tournaments, organizing the defense, motivating my teammates, and performing at my best in high-pressure moments.  

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to be called up to several training camps (microciclos) with the Peruvian U-15 (2023) and U-17 (2025) National Teams, where I trained alongside the best players in my category, further developing my skills in a high-performance environment. With Universitario de Deportes, I became Lima champion and national runner-up in 2021, solidifying my growth in youth soccer. Additionally, I have demonstrated my ability in international competitions by being SAAC Varsity champion in 2024 —scoring the decisive penalty in the final— and runner-up in 2023, competing against American schools from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. I also won the 2024 ADCA championship, a tournament featuring private schools of foreign origin in Peru.

My playing style is defined by my strength, speed, anticipation, and aerial ability, but what truly sets me apart is my leadership, communication, and tactical intelligence. I am a tough, disciplined defender with a strong vocal presence on the field, giving clear instructions and motivating my teammates. I excel in one-on-one duels and set-piece situations, where I have scored crucial goals in decisive matches. I thrive under pressure and bring my best performance in the most challenging games.

Open to new opportunities and holding both American and Peruvian citizenship, I had trials this year with Rush Kendall (Florida) and Wolves (Michigan), both part of the MLS Next program. I made a strong impression at both clubs and was invited to stay. However, I chose to return to Peru to continue my high school studies and further develop my game, while staying open to the possibility of completing my senior year in the U.S.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and results I have achieved, and I always recognize and thank God for guiding my journey. I am ready to bring my soccer career to the next step. I am eager to bring my leadership, defensive strength, team-first mentality and strong work ethic to a program that values dedication and excellence.