SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that the club has signed free agent defender Miguel Trauco to a contract through the 2023 Major League Soccer season with a club option for 2024. Trauco will occupy an international spot on the Quakes’ roster, pending receipt of his P1 Visa and ITC.
“Miguel possesses very high-level experience for both club and country,” said Earthquakes General Manager Chris Leitch. “He’s played in the top leagues of Peru, Brazil, and France, represented his country at the last World Cup, and plays a position of need following the transfer of Marcos Lopez to Feyenoord. We’re excited to welcome him to our club and introduce him to our fans.”
Trauco, 30, most recently played in the French first division, Ligue 1, with AS Saint-Étienne. After joining the French club for a reported fee of $1.1 million in August 2019, Trauco tallied two goals and four assists in 72 total appearances across three seasons. His contract with Saint-Étienne ended in July 2022.
Trauco began his career with CD Unión Comercio in his native Peru in 2010, helping his team earn promotion to the first division at the conclusion of his debut season. He tallied four goals and 12 assists in 162 appearances across five seasons before joining Peruvian side Universitario in January 2016.
Trauco had a standout season for Universitario in 2016, tallying one goal and 10 assists in 41 appearances across regular season, playoffs, and international competition, including Copa Libertadores. Universitario finished with the third-best aggregate record in Peru that season (20-13-11).
He signed for Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2017. Following a sixth-place finish in 2017, Flamengo finished in second place in 2018 and first place in 2019, winning their first Serie A title since 2009. During his two and a half seasons with the club, Trauco anchored one of the league’s stingiest defenses and tallied three goals and eight assists in 49 appearances. He was transferred to Saint-Étienne in August 2019.
Internationally, Trauco has made 68 appearances for the Peru National Team, including playing every minute of the Group Stage during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in which Peru conceded just two goals in three matches against Denmark, France, and Australia. Trauco was also a regular starter for Peru during their run to the 2022 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation playoff, where they missed qualification for this year’s tournament on a penalty shootout.
Miguel Trauco
Pronunciation: TROW-ko
Position: Defender
Height: 5-9
Weight: 140 lbs.
Born: Aug. 25, 1992, in Tarapoto, Peru
Preferred Foot: Left
Hometown: Tarapoto, Peru
Previous Club: AS Saint-Étienne (France)
College: N/A
Roster Designation: International
Transaction: San Jose Earthquakes (MLS) – Earthquakes sign D Miguel Trauco to a contract through the 2023 season with a club option for 2024.
