Diego Rubio signs with Austin FC—what does that mean for 2024 and beyond?

Austin FC got a starting-caliber striker to join Gyasi Zardes on the 2024 roster—but does that mean the team's set at that position?

For those who were wondering and worrying about Austin FC’s striker depth heading into the 2024 season, Monday’s announcement that free agent Diego Rubio has signed a one-year deal (with an option for 2025) should provide some relief.

While Rubio and the Colorado Rapids parted ways at the end of this season, as part of that team’s grand remaking, the Chilean striker has shown himself to be an effective MLS striker since entering the league in 2016 with Sporting Kansas City.

In 165 appearances, including 120 starts, Rubio’s scored 53 goals and added 34 assists. While 2023 was a comparatively disappointing one for him, getting just three goals and four assists in 1080 minutes, he’s also coming off a 2022 in which he scored 16 goals and added seven assists—or a goal contribution every 106 minutes.

Diego Rubio will be the latest Diego to wear #14 for Verde (Ringo Chiu/Shutterstock)

In a way, it’s a typical Austin FC move in the Gyasi Zardes, Maxi Urruti, and Ethan Finlay mold. All three of those attackers came to Verde after featuring for least two prior MLS teams, arriving around age 30 at a career inflection point.

And we’ll get to see Rubio (or at least see tweets about him) soon; a team spokesperson said he’s on today’s flight from Austin to Palm Springs bringing the team to the Coachella Valley Invitational for three matches, starting with a match against Chicago Fire FC on Wednesday.

And in keeping with a team rule that number 14 must go to a Diego, Rubio will wear the jersey number vacated by Diego Fagundez when he was traded to the Galaxy last summer. (We’re kidding about that one, of course, but Rubio wore 11 for the Rapids, and Jader Obrian just got that number, originally worn by Rodney Redes.)

But what does the Rubio signing mean for Austin’s rebuild-in-progress? Let’s take a look (behind the paywall if you’re not a paid subscriber; if you’re a paid subscriber, I appreciate you and just keep reading uninterrupted).