Starr, Mata latest to sign academy contracts with NM United

Two of New Mexico United’s development academy players are getting the chance to play with the older kids on a more regular basis.

United picked up the contracts of midfielders Winston Starr and Fabian Mata on Wednesday. The academy signings allow for Starr, a La Cueva graduate, and Mata, who attended eCademy, to play for the club’s first team.

“It is exciting every time we have an opportunity to reward players from our academy who deserve it,” Sporting Director Itamar Keinan said in a statement. “Both Fabian and Winston dedicated a lot to get here.”

Starr and Mata are the fourth and fifth academy players to have their contracts selected this year after goalkeeper Taren Wente, defender Kyle Hofmann and forward Grady Gilchrist. Wente is now at Pitt prepping for his first college season.

United’s most notable former academy player is Cristian Nava. The Albuquerque High alum signed with the club’s academy in June 2021 and inked a first-team contract that August. Nava has been with New Mexico since except for a brief one-year retirement in 2025.

Starr and Mata have both gotten some first-team experience.

The two played — along with Hofmann and Gilchrist — in United’s international friendly against Liga MX’s Atlante FC last Wednesday with Starr scoring an 89th-minute equalizer in the 3-3 draw on an assist from Cam Wilkerson.

Starr has shown a knack for being an offensive playmaker. He recorded 15 goals and 12 assists during his senior season at La Cueva, which included a 5A state championship. That ability helped him earn the Journal’s All-Metro boys soccer player of the year and be named the top player in the state by Gatorade in June.

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.

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