Walter Ponce

Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo (born 4 March 1998) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ponce and the second or maternal family name is Gallardo.
Walter Ponce
Personal information
Full name Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo
Date of birth (1998-03-04) 4 March 1998
Place of birth Santiago, Chile
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Valour FC
Number 9
Youth career
Granada
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Palestino 3 (0)
2016 → Granada B (loan)
2017–2019 U. de Concepción 34 (5)
2020–2021 La Serena 19 (1)
2021 Barnechea 8 (0)
2022– Valour FC 42 (6)
International career‡
2015 Chile U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 February 2021

Early life

He played youth football in the system of Spanish club Granada.[1] In 2013, Italian club Udinese, who shared the same owners as Granada, purchased 50% of his economic playing rights.[2][3]

Club career

He began his senior career with Chilean Primera División club Palestino, making his professional debut in 2015 at age seventeen.[4][5] He made his debut in a Copa Chile match on 16 July 2015 against Unión Española.[6] Afterwards, he was sent on loan to Spanish club Granada B.[3]

In July 2017, he signed with Universidad de Concepción.[7][8]

In December 2019, he signed with La Serena for the 2020 season.[9]

In March 2021, he signed with Barnechea in the Primera B de Chile.[10]

In January 2022, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.[11][12] However, due to visa issues, he was unable to join the team until May.[13][14][15] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Cavalry FC.[16]

International career

At the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he made two appearances for Chile U17.[17]

References
  1. "Walter Ponce tendrá una chance en el fútbol de Canadá" [Walter Ponce will have a chance in Canadian soccer]. TNT Sports (in Spanish). January 16, 2022.
  2. Rivera, José Luis (October 26, 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).
  3. Gardella, Juan Ignacio (July 24, 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).
  4. Aliaga, Martín (January 14, 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).
  5. Jacques, John (January 13, 2022). "Valour FC Signs Chilean Forward Walter Ponce". Northern Tribune.
  6. "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). November 2, 2015.
  7. "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). July 27, 2017.
  8. "Amarilla y Ponce llegan a la UdeC" [Amarilla and Ponce arrive at the UdeC]. Diario Concepción (in Spanish). July 27, 2017.
  9. "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). December 28, 2019.
  10. "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). March 5, 2021.
  11. Tait, Ed (January 13, 2022). ""We think he's someone who could bring high rewards to the club." - Valour FC adds Walter Ponce". Valour FC.
  12. Veth, Manuel (January 13, 2022). "Valour FC sign Walter Ponce - 2nd signing from Barnechea". Transfermarkt.
  13. ""He's here… finally. One (international player) down, two to go." - Ponce arrives in Winnipeg". Valour FC. May 17, 2022.
  14. Jacques, John (May 17, 2022). "After Long Wait, Walter Ponce Arrives To Winnipeg". Northern Tribune.
  15. Axelrod, Gavin (May 18, 2022). "Versatile Ponce finally joins Valour FC". Winnipeg Free Press.
  16. "Valour FC's home troubles continue in loss to Cavalry FC". Winnipeg Sun. June 15, 2022.
  17. "Valour FC signs Chilean forward Walter Ponce". Valour FC. January 13, 2022.
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