It’s no secret that the injuries are mounting for San Diego FC, especially on defense. Usually, this point of the season brings those kinds of challenges to all teams. Most teams have played 26 total MLS games. A handful have played 27. That is not taking into account the extra various league games that teams participate in as well.

That’s a lot of miles on legs. Head coach Mikey Varas knows this and has preached having a deep squad since the beginning of the season. San Diego is dealing with the difficult things that come along with being in an expansion season. Not having an MLS-Next-type team really hurts the depth of the squad. Director Tyler Heaps is doing his best to replenish the squad by making signings in positions that need it most.

The RB Revolving Door

San Diego’s right-back position has been hit the hardest as it relates to injuries. A once every-day starter, Willy Kumado has been dealing with a long-term leg injury that he is still recovering from. Youngster Oscar Verhoeven, who San Diego signed from San Jose, made the most of his opportunities and earned the starting role in Willy’s place. Verhoeven has been dealing with a lower-body injury that gave an opportunity for new signing Aidan Harangi to prove himself fit for a starting RB position. Harangi has done exceptionally well but was taken out of the game last Sunday due to an arm injury.

Welcome Leo Duru

Enter Leo Duru, the latest San Diego FC signing. At just 20 years old, Duru broke into Blackburn’s first team last August, making the first of his three senior appearances for the club. Before that, he featured regularly for the Rovers’ academy side, tallying 74 matches with three goals and nine assists. Earlier this year, he gained additional experience on loan with Barrow A.F.C. in EFL League Two, where he appeared in eight matches and earned seven starts.

“We’re happy to welcome Leo to San Diego,” said Heaps. “He’s a player we have been monitoring for many months and is a defender with exceptional physical attributes that can also play further forward. We look forward to supporting his development and seeing him continue to grow in his professional journey with SDFC.”

What Duru Brings To SDFC

• Defensive Reliability
  Duru has built his game on defensive awareness. He reads the game well, stays disciplined in one-on-one situations, and uses his pace to recover when caught out. For a brand-new backline, that level of stability is a huge asset.
• Support for Star Attackers
  With San Diego building its attack around players like Hirving Lozano and Anders Dreyer, Duru’s ability to hold width and overlap will allow Lozano, in particular, to drift inside into central attacking spaces. His runs may not always show up on the stat sheet, but they’ll create space for SDFC’s marquee names.
• Composure in Build-Up
  Varas wants his team to play out of the back, and Duru fits that philosophy. Calm under pressure, he makes clean, simple passes that maintain possession and help the team transition upfield.
• High Work Rate
  Expansion seasons are often chaotic, but Duru’s motor and concentration mean he’ll bring steady performances over 90 minutes, regardless of the opponent.

An Ideal Fit

At just 20, Duru represents both present value and future upside. He’s the type of player who won’t dominate highlight reels but will quietly become one of the team’s most trusted figures. For an expansion team trying to balance youth development with immediate competitiveness, Duru is an ideal fit.

If he continues to grow his attacking game, he could evolve into one of the most complete left-backs in MLS. In the short term, San Diego fans should expect a player who brings consistency, athleticism, and a defensive presence that allows the club’s star attackers to shine.

First-place San Diego FC (16-7-4) hosts the Portland Timbers (10-9-7) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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Dmitry Anisimov

Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.