Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo (born 4 March 1998) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Unión La Calera.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo | ||
| Date of birth | 4 March 1998 | ||
| Place of birth | Santiago, Chile | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Unión La Calera | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Palestino | |||
| 2013–2016 | Udinese | ||
| 2015 | → Unión Española (loan) | ||
| 2015–2016 | → Palestino (loan) | ||
| 2016 | → Granada (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2016 | → Palestino (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2016 | → Granada B (loan) | – | (–) |
| 2017–2019 | Universidad de Concepción | 34 | (5) |
| 2020–2021 | Deportes La Serena | 19 | (1) |
| 2021 | Barnechea | 8 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Valour FC | 42 | (6) |
| 2024– | Unión La Calera | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015 | Chile U17 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 February 2021 | |||
Early life
editHe played youth football in the system of Chilean clubs Palestino and Unión Española[1] and the Spanish club Granada.[2] In 2013, Italian club Udinese, who shared the same owners as Granada, purchased 50% of his economic playing rights.[3][4][5]
Club career
editHe began his senior career with Chilean Primera División club Palestino, making his professional debut in 2015 at age seventeen.[6][7] He made his debut in a Copa Chile match on 16 July 2015 against Unión Española.[8] Afterwards, he was sent on loan to Spanish club Granada B.[5][9]
In July 2017, he signed with Universidad de Concepción.[10][11]
In December 2019, he signed with La Serena for the 2020 season.[12]
In March 2021, he signed with Barnechea in the Primera B de Chile.[13]
In January 2022, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.[14][15] However, due to visa issues, he was unable to join the team until May.[16][17][18] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Cavalry FC.[19]
In 2024, he returned to Chile and joined Unión La Calera.[20]
International career
editAt the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he made two appearances for Chile U17.[21]
References
edit- ^ "Unión Española sub 17 logró un categórico triunfo ante Colo Colo" [Union Española under 17 achieved a categorical triumph against Colo Colo]. ANFP (in Spanish). 15 May 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Walter Ponce tendrá una chance en el fútbol de Canadá" [Walter Ponce will have a chance in Canadian soccer]. TNT Sports (in Spanish). 16 January 2022.
- ^ "La "cantera" de Palestino sigue exportando a Italia" [Palestino's "quarry" continues exporting to Italy]. ANFP (in Spanish). 31 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ Rivera, José Luis (26 October 2015). "Conoce a Walter Ponce: Potencia para el ataque de la selección chilena Sub 17" [Meet Walter Ponce: Power for the attack of the Chilean Under 17 team]. Radio Bío-Bío (in Spanish).
- ^ a b Gardella, Juan Ignacio (24 July 2018). "Walter Ponce, "el Dybala del Campanil": "Me carga la regla Sub 20, merezco jugar"" [Walter Ponce, "the Dybala del Campanil": "The Sub 20 rule burdens me, I deserve to play"]. Publimetro (in Spanish).
- ^ Aliaga, Martín (14 January 2022). "Exjugador de Palestino saltará al extranjero y será refuerzo en la Primera División de Canadá" [Former Palestinian player will jump abroad and will be reinforced in the First Division of Canada]. En Cancha (in Spanish).
- ^ Jacques, John (13 January 2022). "Valour FC Signs Chilean Forward Walter Ponce". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Walter Ponce: El mundialista que busca consolidarse en Palestino" [Walter Ponce: The World Cup player who seeks to consolidate himself in Palestine]. La Tercera (in Spanish). 2 November 2015.
- ^ Kuschel, Daniel (28 July 2017). "Los delanteros fueron presentados ayer: Amarilla y Ponce, nuevas caras en UdeC". Diario Concepción (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "Universidad de Concepción anunció dos incorporaciones para el Torneo de Transición" [Universidad de Concepción announced two additions to the Transition Tournament]. Radio Cooperativa (in Spanish). 27 July 2017.
- ^ "Amarilla y Ponce llegan a la UdeC" [Amarilla and Ponce arrive at the UdeC]. Diario Concepción (in Spanish). 27 July 2017.
- ^ "Walter Ponce se convirtió en nuevo refuerzo de Deportes La Serena" [Walter Ponce became a new reinforcement of Deportes La Serena]. Alaire Libre (in Spanish). 28 December 2019.
- ^ "AC Barnechea comienza a armar con todo su plantel de cara al inicio de la temporada 2021" [AC Barnechea begins to assemble its entire squad for the start of the 2021 season]. Todo Futbol (in Spanish). 5 March 2021.
- ^ Tait, Ed (13 January 2022). ""We think he's someone who could bring high rewards to the club." - Valour FC adds Walter Ponce". Valour FC.
- ^ Veth, Manuel (13 January 2022). "Valour FC sign Walter Ponce - 2nd signing from Barnechea". Transfermarkt.
- ^ ""He's here… finally. One (international player) down, two to go." - Ponce arrives in Winnipeg". Valour FC. 17 May 2022.
- ^ Jacques, John (17 May 2022). "After Long Wait, Walter Ponce Arrives To Winnipeg". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Axelrod, Gavin (18 May 2022). "Versatile Ponce finally joins Valour FC". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ "Valour FC's home troubles continue in loss to Cavalry FC". Winnipeg Sun. 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Unión La Calera presentó a Walter Ponce como su nuevo fichaje". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Valour FC signs Chilean forward Walter Ponce". Valour FC. 13 January 2022.
External links
edit- Walter Ponce at Soccerway
- Walter Ponce at WorldFootball.net