Recent performances with Real Salt Lake and the U.S. men's national team make it clear that Diego Luna has the skills required to succeed in Europe and follow the path of American attackers like Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman and Clint Dempsey.
And last week, GiveMeSport's Tom Bogert revealed that La Liga outfit Celta de Vigo had expressed genuine interest in the 21-year-old, who scored three times for the USMNT at the Concacaf Gold Cup.
A move to La Liga would mark a major step forward in Luna’s young career, placing him in one of the world’s top leagues alongside stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. It’s a transition that many believe Luna is ready for, not just because of his technical ability, but because of his character, tactical awareness, and growing maturity on the field.
When asked about the rumors linking him to Celta, Luna told AS USA Latino: “There are many conversations about many things. I also have dreams and aspirations of going to Europe, but I will analyze whether that or staying in the United States is the best thing for me at this time.”
Luna a good fit at Celta de Vigo?
The question is whether a move to Spain's Northwest would represent those best interests.
Celta de Vigo is currently managed by Claudio Giráldez, a young coach praised for his dynamic 3-4-3 formation and development-focused approach. Promoted from within the club after a successful stint with Celta’s B team, Giráldez emphasizes an aggressive, high-paced style of play, blending youthful energy with veteran experience — a system that could suit Luna well.
Luna is reportedly viewed as a replacement for Hugo González, who recently transferred to Sevilla. If signed, Luna's role will be linking the midfield with the forward line, where Spanish international Borja Iglesias plays. It could be a good fit tactically for Luna, who spent a portion of his youth career at the Barcelona Residency Academy in Arizona.
Celta finished seventh in La Liga last season and will compete in the UEFA Conference League this year. The Galician club has a history of nurturing young talent and recently parted ways with U.S. international Luca de la Torre, who played alongside Luna at the Gold Cup before moving to San Diego FC.
Off the field, Celta might feel more like Salt Lake City than you might expect. While La Liga is an enormous league, Vigo is one of its smaller markets, with a population of roughly 300,000 that puts it outside of Spain's 10 largest cities.
And the club plays its home matches at the Balaídos Stadium, with a capacity of 23,000, which is similar in size to RSL's America First Field. But also like the Claret-and-Cobalt. Celta have punched above their small market weight at times, and the club has given rise to stars like Iago Aspas and Gabri Veiga
What comes next?
At this moment, Celta’s interest in Luna has not materialized into a formal offer. Real Salt Lake is unlikely to let the midfielder leave cheaply, with his market value currently estimated by Transfermarkt at $9.3 million, a figure that could rise following his national team exploits. Luna, who is of Mexican descent, has also expressed a desire to play for Club América in Mexico someday, further fueling speculation about his next move.
Regardless of where he lands next, one thing is certain: Luna is among the brightest young prospects in US soccer. Whether he continues his development in MLS, heads to La Liga, or explores other international opportunities, his trajectory is firmly pointing upward.