Who is Gio Reyna? Player profile, club history & USMNT stats

If the USMNT manages to do something special at the 2026 World Cup, there is a good chance Gio Reyna will be a key contributor to that success. Still just 23, Reyna is one of the most talented yet enigmatic American players. Already in his young career, he’s been the subject of great excitement but also great controversy and disappointment.

Here we introduce you to Reyna and what makes him one of the USMNT’s most exciting young players.

Who is Gio Reyna?

Since the day he was born, Reyna was destined to be a soccer star. He was born in Sunderland, England. At the time, his father, Claudio Reyna, was playing for Sunderland in the English Premier League. Claudio was a longtime member of the USMNT, earning 112 caps between 1994 and 2006. He scored eight international goals and was a member of four World Cup squads.

When he was four, Gio Reyna moved with his family back to the United States. He joined the New York City FC academy in 2015. As a teenager, it was clear that Reyna had inherited many of his father’s skills on the soccer field. Of course, his mother also played college soccer at North Carolina and made six appearances for the USWNT. With both parents contributing great soccer genes, Reyna was a special player at a young age, moving to the Borussia Dortmund academy in 2019.

Gio Reyna’s career so far

In January 2020, barely two months after his 17th birthday, Reyna made his Bundesliga debut with Borussia Dortmund. He became the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga, even younger than Christian Pulisic when he made his debut with the same club.

It didn’t take long for Reyna to establish himself as a regular contributor at Dortmund. In his first full Bundesliga season, he made 32 appearances, scoring four goals. Ultimately, he became the youngest player to log at least 50 Bundesliga appearances. However, a series of injuries stunted his development, limiting him to just 10 games for Dortmund during the 2021-22 Bundesliga season.

Amidst multiple injuries, Reyna found it difficult to get consistent playing time at Dortmund. A loan to Nottingham Forest for the second half of the 2023-24 season only gave him nine appearances in the Premier League. He returned to Dortmund the following season, scoring just two goals in 15 appearances, with injuries and a lack of playing time stunting his development.

In the summer of 2025, Reyna moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach with the hope of breathing new life into his career with another Bundesliga team and getting regular minutes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, Reyna has struggled to earn consistent playing time with his new club, starting just four Bundesliga games and making 13 appearances off the bench.

Gio Reyna’s USMNT stats

Reyna’s time with the USMNT has also seen its ups and downs. He scored a key goal against Mexico in the 2020 Nations League final. Reyna also had a memorable moment during a World Cup qualifying game against Mexico in which he dribbled through half the team. 

However, he saw only 52 minutes of action during the 2022 World Cup. Gregg Berhalter criticized him for having a poor attitude during the tournament. After the tournament, there was drama between Berhalter and the Reyna family off the field, with Reyna’s mom accusing Berhalter of a domestic violence incident in 1991.

After the 2022 World Cup, Reyna would have positive moments with the national team. He assisted on both goals in a 2-0 win over Canada in the 2023 Nations League final. Reyna also scored a goal in the 2-0 win over Mexico in the 2024 Nations League final.

However, injuries and a lack of playing time at club level have made it hard for him to establish himself as part of the USMNT core ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Of course, the upside he brings could make him a key part of the USMNT’s World Cup hopes this summer.

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