SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Saturday it had signed forward Santiago Patiño to a new multi-year deal, bringing the 2022 USL Championship Final MVP back to the club for a third time. The transaction, pending league and federation approval. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Santi to the SAFC family,” said SAFC Sporting Director Marco Ferruzzi. “He is committed to the club and our project and is hungry to compete with his teammates and for San Antonio.”
Patiño was welcomed back to San Antonio on Saturday night as the club unveiled its Team of the Decade at halftime of its contest against Lexington SC. He returns to the Alamo City having most recently competed abroad with First Division sides in Vietnam and Sudan. The Colombian is SAFC’s all-time leading scorer, netting 26 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions from 2021-23. Patiño also holds the club’s record for most playoff goals with nine total in his postseason career.
The 28-year-old was named 2022 USL Championship Final MVP after scoring a brace in the final to secure the club’s first league title. He returned to San Antonio in August 2023, posting seven goals in 1,157 minutes of play to close out the season.
Originally drafted with the No. 3 selection of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, Patiño began his professional career at Orlando City FC, playing two seasons with the Lions while also spending time on loan with Mexican side Cimarrones de Sonora. Before turning pro, Patiño attending Florida International University, where he played collegiate soccer for four years. While at FIU, he scored 37 goals in 69 matches while being named an All-Conference USA selection three times.