Who is Santiago Castaneda? More about Paderborn midfielder called up to first USMNT camp by Pochettino

Who is Santiago Castaneda? More about Paderborn midfielder called up to first USMNT camp by Pochettino originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When the USMNT convenes for the November international break, Mauricio Pochettino will put his best foot forward hoping to take care of Haiti in the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals to set up a run at the continental title next spring.

Pochettino has called in 25 players from across the globe to help in that endeavor, led by stars Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, both of whom return to the roster for this window after missing out on the four friendlies last month.

Along for the ride as well are a pair of 21-year-old international newcomers in Reed Baker-Whiting and Santiago Castaneda. While Baker-Whiting, who has spent his entire young career so far domestically in MLS, may be a somewhat more familiar to fans in the United States, Castaneda is an almost completely new name who was way off the radar for most USMNT supporters.

The Sporting News brings you a look at who the midfielder is, where he comes from, what other country he spurned to represent the United States, and how he built a club career in Germany after humble beginnings in Florida high school soccer.

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Where is Santiago Castaneda from?

Santiago Castaneda was born in Tampa, Florida in 2004.

His father Carlos Castaneda is from Medellin, Colombia, where he played professionally for Comunicaciones FC amongst other clubs. His mother is from Cali, Colombia and is a big supporter of America de Cali, according to Brian Sciaretta of American Soccer Now.

Therefore, through both his parents, he was also eligible to play for Colombia. However, if he enters the field of play in either of the matches against Haiti, Castaneda would be cap-tied to the United States having appeared in a competitive match.

Castaneda went to high school in Tampa, spurning MLS Next to do so, and he has USYNT experience at the U-21 and U-23 levels.

Santiago Castaneda club career

Santiago Castaneda began his club career with Tampa Bay United of MLS Next while still a freshman in high school. However, after receiving a scholarship to play for private school Tampa Prep, he decided to leave the MLS Next side and play for his school, where he won a state title his junior year.

USL Championships side Tampa Bay Rowdies who he joined for their 2022 preseason, signing a USL Academy contract with the club. He was only there for less than a year, however, when a talent ID squad allowed him to play games in Denmark, where he was spotted by German third-tier side MSV Duisburg, who offered him a trial and then a contract.

Castaneda joined Duisburg, spurning the chance to play collegiately in the United States for Michigan, and it was the right choice. He logged over 2,300 minutes his first professional season, and while Duisburg was relegated to the fourth tier of German football, Castaneda would make a move to 2.Bundesliga side Paderborn in the summer of 2024, joining on a free transfer.

At Paderborn, Castaneda was an immediate starter, logging over 2,100 minutes in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, with the club earning promotion to the Bundesliga in his second season by beating Wolfsburg in the promotion/relegation playoff.

Castaneda has retained his starting role in the German top flight this season, playing the full 90 minutes in each of the club’s first eight games, with Paderborn currently sitting 14th in the league table having won two matches and drawing three more so far.