Ks. Gnauhati

Xavi Milad Gnaulati came through San Diego's own youth pathway, spending over a decade with San Diego Surf before becoming the second local player to move through that development route into a professional contract with San Diego Loyal SC. He made his debut for the club in April 2022 and signed his first professional deal the following year, contributing two goals in six league appearances.

When San Diego Loyal folded, Gnaulati joined Monterey Bay FC as a free agent. Across nearly two seasons he built up 41 league appearances and was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week as well as picking up a Goal of the Week award. In the 2025 U.S. Open Cup he was joint top scorer with three goals in just two matches.

In January 2026, Tacoma Defiance signed him from Monterey Bay for a fee described as significant, with further incentives attached. Within months he was included in Sounders matchday squads, first for the Leagues Cup in August 2026 and then in MLS days later, as part of the same move that took him to Tacoma.

Gnaulati's international experience so far has been limited to youth level, with call-ups to United States under-14 camps, and he has yet to earn a senior cap.