We've got our winger: Chris Garcia joins the Mingos

Forward Madison announced a pretty exciting addition this morning — 22-year-old winger Christopher Garcia, who’s already got an impressive pro pedigree.

The El Paso native joined the Real Salt Lake academy at 15 and signed a homegrown contract with the club at 17 — both while Matt Glaeser was an assistant coach in the RSL organization. He made three appearances with the senior team and spent much of 2020 sidelined with injury. He spent the 2021 on loan to Ljungskile SK in Sweden and 2022 on loan to his hometown team, El Paso Locomotive, where he signed in 2023. He then spent 2024 on loan with Austin FC II in MLS Next Pro.

There’s not a lot of recent video readily available, but he looks to be a very pacey, aggressive winger who’s exceptionally good on the ball. Clearly he’ll be here to fill the sizeable boots of Stephen Payne, who was announced as one of the first-ever signings for Westchester. I’m told Matt thinks very highly of him, having worked with him when he was a teenager. He’ll be one of three men capable of playing the wing, a crucial piece in Glaeser’s 3-5-2 system, along with Ferrety Sousa and Derek Gebhard. What we don’t know yet, based on available information, is whether he can defend, which he will surely be asked to do.

Glaeser has built his rosters out of USL League One veterans for the most part, so it’s intriguing and exciting to see an addition from the ranks of MLS, USLC, and MLSNP.

Also, a question

Be honest because if you all say yes I might actually do it, and then if I do it and you don’t show up that would suck.