PRONUNCIATION: al-die-ar SAHN-CHEZ
POSITION: Defender
BIRTHDATE: June 6, 2002
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 155
HOMETOWN:
YOUTH CLUBS: Washington Timbers, River plate (Argentina), Portland Timbers Academy
PREVIOUS TEAMS: Sacramento Republic (USLC), University of North Carolina (NCAA), Portland Timbers 2 (USLC)
PROFILE
Sanchez signed with Rhode Island FC on February 7, 2025, after a successful start to his professional career with Sacramento Republic FC, where he made 68 appearances in two seasons across all competitions. Becoming a regular in the club’s starting lineup, Sanchez played in a variety of positions on the left side. The versatile defender helped the club to two-straight playoff appearances during his stay, including a first-place Western Conference regular-season finish in 2023. In 2024, Sanchez appeared in every USL Championship game for Sacramento, making 24 starts and scoring a career-high three goals. He was one of four Sacramento players to appear in all 35 games across the regular season and playoffs, and also appeared in all three games of the club’s run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals. Before his USL Championship debut, Sanchez played collegiately for two years with the University of North Carolina, registering 769 minutes in 30 appearances for the Tar Heels. He helped North Carolina reach the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021, before signing with Sacramento and playing his first full professional season in 2023. In his youth, Sanchez moved up the ranks of the Portland Timbers Academy, eventually making his professional debut with a pair of appearances for then-USL Championship side Portland Timbers 2 in 2019.