Benji Joya Explained
| Benji Joya |
| Fullname: | Héctor Benjamín Joya Jiménez[1] |
| Birth Date: | 22 September 1993 |
| Birth Place: | San Jose, California, United States |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthyears1: | 2009–2011 |
| Youthclubs1: | De Anza Force |
| Youthyears2: | 2011–2012 |
| Youthclubs2: | Santos Laguna |
| Years1: | 2012–2016 |
| Clubs1: | Santos Laguna |
| Caps1: | 4 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2014 |
| Clubs2: | → Chicago Fire (loan) |
| Caps2: | 12 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2015–2016 |
| Clubs3: | → Necaxa (loan) |
| Caps3: | 2 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2016 |
| Clubs4: | Sporting Kansas City |
| Caps4: | 0 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs5: | Irapuato |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs6: | Oakland Roots |
| Caps6: | 6 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2012–2013 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 19 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 4 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2014–2015 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States U23 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
| Pcupdate: | March 17, 2020 |
| Ntupdate: | April 23, 2015 |
Héctor Benjamín "Benji" Joya Jiménez (born September 22, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder.
Club career
Santos Laguna
Joya, who is of Mexican descent grew up in the Bay Area of California, played in the USSF Development Academy for De Anza Force. In early 2012, he joined Santos Laguna's organization. He began playing during the 2012 Clausura with the club's U-20 team. In September 2012, the midfielder made his first team debut in a Liga MX match.[2]
Chicago Fire
Joya was loaned to Chicago Fire with an option to buy ahead of the 2014 MLS season. In the 2014 season opener, he made his MLS debut as a 63rd-minute substitute with his side was down 2–0. Seconds after making his way onto the field, a shot deflected by the Chivas USA keeper landed in front of him. He scored a left-footed shot inside the six yard box to put the Fire on the board, making it 2–1. That was Joya's first MLS touch and only league goal of the season.[3]
Club Necaxa
Joya was loaned to Necaxa of the Ascenso MX for 2015–16.
Sporting Kansas City
Joya signed with Sporting Kansas City on September 15, 2016, before the MLS roster freeze.[4]
Irapuato
On January 10, 2018, Joya signed with Mexican club Irapuato.[5]
Oakland Roots SC
In April 2019, Joya signed with NISA expansion club Oakland Roots SC.[6] He played in six of the team's games during both the Fall and Spring seasons. On September 8, 2019, Joya scored his first goal for Oakland against Liga MX side FC Juárez in an international friendly at Laney College, which the Roots lost 4–2.[7]
On April 16, 2020, while the NISA season was on hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joya was released from Oakland following an arrest the previous day.[8]
International career
Joya was a member of the United States U-20 squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[9]
Notes and References
- Web site: FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: United States . FIFA.com . PDF . 23 . Fédération Internationale de Football Association . June 23, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130627043508/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2013/pdf/FWYC_2013_SquadLists.pdf . June 27, 2013 . dead.
- Web site: Sciaretta . Brian . Joya, a Promising U.S. Player, Makes a Mark in Mexico . The New York Times . September 26, 2012 . 13 March 2019 . October 12, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171012151040/https://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/joya-a-promising-u-s-player-makes-a-mark-in-mexico/?ref=global . live .
- Web site: Benji Joya RELEASE: Chicago Fire Soccer Club Acquires Midfielder Benji Joya . Chicago Fire . 13 March 2019 . January 5, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180105132505/https://www.chicago-fire.com/post/2014/02/05/release-chicago-fire-soccer-club-acquires-midfielder-benji-joya . live .
- Web site: Stephenson . Colin . Sporting Kansas City sign former US U-20 midfielder Benji Joya . MLS Soccer . 13 March 2019 . June 3, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170603135447/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/15/sporting-kansas-city-sign-former-us-u-20-midfielder-benji-joya . live .
- https://sbisoccer.com/2018/01/u-s-u-23-international-benji-joya-signs-with-irapuato-fc Former U.S. U-23 international Benji Joya signs with Irapuato FC
- News: Zimmerman . Douglas . "I am ready for this." Former U.S. U-20 captain Benji Joya joins Oakland Roots . 30 April 2019 . . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114235557/https://blog.sfgate.com/soccer/2019/04/25/i-am-ready-for-this-former-u-s-u-20-captain-benji-joya-joins-oakland-roots/ . live .
- Web site: Zimmerman . Douglas . Oakland Roots receive reality check against Liga MX's FC Juarez . SFGate . 17 April 2020 . 9 September 2019.
- Web site: Roots . Oakland . OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Today, the Oakland Roots were disappointed to learn that midfielder Benji Joya was arrested in San Jose on Wednesday. Therefore, the Club has decided to release him.The Roots will have no further comment on this issue given the ongoing investigation. . @oaklandrootssc . 16 April 2020 . en . 16 April 2020 . April 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417104742/https://twitter.com/oaklandrootssc/status/1250920135562416128 . live .
- Web site: U-20 World Cup Spotlight: Midfielder Benji Joya - U.S. Soccer . 2014-02-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116162548/http://www.ussoccer.com/media-library/videos/u20-mnt/2013/u20-world-cup/u-20-world-cup-spotlight--midfielder-benji-joya.aspx . January 16, 2014 . mdy .
