WVU Men’s Soccer Reloads Midfield with Ignacio Martinez and Juan Alvarez for 2025 Title Defense
Morgantown, WV – June 18, 2025
Coming off the most electric season in program history, the West Virginia Mountaineers men’s soccer team isn’t resting on its laurels. On Tuesday, WVU officially announced the signing of two dynamic midfielders, Ignacio Martinez and Juan Alvarez—high-caliber additions poised to bolster the defending national champions as they prepare for another title run.
Martinez, a 21-year-old Spanish playmaker from Valencia, arrives from Levante UD’s youth academy, where he captained the U-21 squad to a Copa de la Reina semifinal finish last year. Known for his precise vision, one-touch passing, and relentless press in transition, Martinez is expected to bring a cerebral edge to the heart of WVU’s midfield. Head Coach Dan Stratford called him “a natural leader with elite football IQ, who raises the tempo and can thread a pass through the eye of a needle.”
On the opposite side of the spectrum lies Juan Alvarez, a 19-year-old Colombian powerhouse from Medellín who made headlines last fall after a breakout season with Atlético Nacional’s reserve side. A box-to-box midfielder with an unyielding motor, Alvarez combines South American flair with old-school grit. At 5’10” and 170 pounds, he’s been described by scouts as a “bulldog with ballet feet.” Stratford sees Alvarez as the perfect fit for WVU’s high-pressing system: “Juan is fearless—he wins the second balls, dictates the rhythm, and has a thunderbolt shot from distance. He’s a tone-setter.”
The pair is set to arrive on campus next week to begin summer training sessions alongside returning captain Luca Posarelli and fellow midfielder Danny Browne. The Mountaineers, fresh off their historic College Cup victory over Stanford last December, will begin the 2025 campaign as preseason favorites and likely ranked No. 1 nationally.
While Martinez is expected to fill the creative role vacated by MLS-bound senior Leo Minott, Alvarez will likely slot in as a versatile utility man capable of disrupting play and launching counters. Together, the duo promises to inject both flair and bite into a midfield already teeming with experience and tactical sharpness.
“This isn’t about reloading—it’s about evolving,” said Stratford. “Our goal isn’t just to defend the crown. We want to set a new standard.”
As WVU continues to climb the ranks of collegiate soccer elites, these international additions underline the program’s growing reputation as a global destination for top-tier talent. With Martinez orchestrating from deep and Alvarez thundering through tackles and transitions, Mountaineer fans can expect fireworks this fall.
The season opener is set for August 29th at Dick Dlesk Stadium against perennial powerhouse Notre Dame, and all eyes will be on the new midfield duo—two young men from opposite hemispheres, united under one banner: Let’s Go Mountaineers.
