EVANSTON, Ill. — Head coach Tim Lenahan and Northwestern men's soccer have announced an addition to their 2018 recruiting class. Jose Del Valle will join the Wildcats and five other newcomers on campus next fall.

HIGHLIGHTS | FEBRUARY ANNOUNCEMENT

"I really like the balance of the group we are bringing in next year," Lenahan said in February. "We have added a pair of very tough and physical defenders in Julian Zighelboim and Jayson Cyrus, two very clever central midfield players in Richie Bennett and Connor McCabe and a very dynamic attacking player in Bardia Kimiavi. Adding an international goal scorer in Jose Del Valle really caps a great recruiting class. I think you will see several of these players have an immediate impact at Northwestern and in the Big Ten."

Jose Del Valle | 6-3 | 170 | Madrid, Spain | Colegio Suizo de Madrid

High School: Did not play High School soccer due to full-time commitment to Real Madrid.

Club: Real Madrid, C.F. Academy from 2007-2018 … Was the league's top goal scorer (42) in 2013-14 … Helped club to a league championship in 2014-15, while scoring 24 goals … Season 2015-2016: league champions (23 goals scored), Champion Nike Premier Cup Spain, Top Scorer II Trofeo Ford … Scored 19 goals during the 2016-17 season … Managed to find the back of the net six times in eight games before missing the remainder of the 2017-18 season due to injury … Other acknowledgments: Champion Mundialito in 2012, Champion Puskas Cup in 2017

Personal: Parents are Jose Maria and Emma … Sister Gema (15) is 800-meter runner … Speaks fluent German in addition to Spanish and English … Chose Northwestern after considering Syracuse, Villanova, Cal Poly and Wisconsin … Enjoys traveling, sports and music … Major is undecided.

Coach Lenahan Comments: Jose comes from a great pedigree having played in the Real Madrid system for the past 11 years. He is a true center forward with the versatility to play outside or in center midfield … He has great size, aerial presence and a knack for the goal. He is tactically very good at the timing of his runs and finishes once he is there. It's very rare for a player from Real Madrid to opt for an academic experience instead of continuing on the professional route. Once he adjusts to the intensity and physical play of Big Ten and Division I soccer, I expect him to have a great college career.

Northwestern returns 10 starters from last year's team, including 21 of 22 goals scored. First year Tommy Katsyiannis ranks second among the Big Ten's returning goal scorers. He posted a team-high seven goals in his rookie campaign, all of which came in the team's final nine games. Classmate Garrett Opperman was a unanimous selection to the Big Ten's All-Freshmen Team having played every minute of the season on Northwestern's defensive line. Sophomore Mac Mazzola busted onto the scene late in the season, scoring three of his four goals in the last six game. He finished second on the team with four goals and two assists.

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Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Lenahan Adds to 2018 Recruiting Class, Welcomes Jose Del Valle

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