Joshua Santiago is a 19-year-old right-back who is currently playing for LAFC 2, which is the reserve team for LAFC in MLS Next Pro. In 2023, he was signed to LAFC 2 from the LAFC academy and has made 43 appearances for the reserve side, assisting twice. He also has youth national team call-ups for both Mexico and the United States, making three appearances for both national teams.

Standing at approximately 5’9″ with a compact and agile build, his small stature and explosive lower body give him exceptional quickness in tight spaces. His explosive acceleration allows him to regularly catch wingers who have gotten in behind, and his rapid first few steps allow him to win foot races in both defense and attack. He shows reasonable lower body power for his size but can be pushed off the ball against physically imposing opponents. Santiago uses quick lateral movements to jockey effectively, making it difficult to beat him in 1v1 situations and he is rarely caught off balance. He lacks physical presence in the air due to his height and is out-jumped by opposition wingers and strikers. His high level endurance allows him to be relentless in attacking runs and defensive recoveries, recovering quickly throughout the match. He consistently shows a strong desire to win the ball, steps into challenges with real bite, and sets a combative tone on his flank.

Out of possession, Santiago keeps a decent connection with his centre-back but can be caught slightly high during transitions. He tracks opposition wingers diligently across the flank and shows good awareness of when to press. In 1v1 situations, he is balanced and patient and consistently forces opponents wide or onto their weaker foot. He is a relentless pressing fullback who rarely gives opponents time on the ball, but timing and triggers still require refinement against top-level sides. He positions himself reasonably well against direct wingers and anticipates runs in behind but can be a step late on quick switches.

In possession, Santiago is a modern fullback who balances defense with frequent runs forward, provides width and chance creation. He keeps possession in most build-up situations and stays calm under moderate pressure, but heavier pressing can force occasional rushed decisions. Whether playing short link-up under pressure, ambitious diagonals, or line-breaking balls into the half-space, the weight, timing an accuracy of his passes are strong. He regularly carries the ball forward with purpose and steps forward with composure and close control. Santiago supports attacks down the flanks when space is available and makes a reasonable number of overlaps. His crosses are frequently overhit or lack accuracy, even when arriving in good crossing or cutback positions. He generally selects sensible options, keeps possession well, and rarely makes major errors, but can occasionally force a progressive pass at the wrong moment. He is comfortable receiving and distributing with both feet, executes carries and combinations with high technical security.

Santiago has proven to be a modern fullback who advances play down his flank and is comfortable with short combinations and driven progressive passes. He recovers cleanly if initially beaten in 1v1 situations and issues intelligent jockeying to force opponents wide or onto their weaker foot. With further development in not getting caught out of position in transitions and better accuracy in his crosses, he can become a starter for a mid-table team in a top 6-8 league. He would fit well in a high-pressing or possession-oriented 4-3-3 system. His current level is starting for a mid-table team in a top 16-20 league, with potential to play in a mid-table team in a top 6-8 league.