Walter Ponce

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ponce and the second or maternal family name is Gallardo.

Walter Ponce

Personal information
Full name	Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo
Date of birth	(1998-03-04) 4 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Santiago, Chile
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Unión La Calera
Youth career
	Palestino
2013–2016	Udinese
2015	→ Unión Española (loan)
2015–2016	→ Palestino (loan)
2016	→ Granada (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2016	→ Palestino (loan)	3	(0)
2016	→ Granada B (loan)	–	(–)
2017–2019	Universidad de Concepción	34	(5)
2020–2021	Deportes La Serena	19	(1)
2021	Barnechea	8	(0)
2022–2023	Valour FC	42	(6)
2024–	Unión La Calera	0	(0)
International career^‡
2015	Chile U17	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 February 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 February 2021

Walter Benjamín Ponce Gallardo (born 4 March 1998) is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a forward for Unión La Calera.

Early life

He played youth football in the system of Chilean clubs Palestino and Unión Española[1] and the Spanish club Granada.[2] In 2013, Italian club Udinese, who shared the same owners as Granada, purchased 50% of his economic playing rights.[3][4][5]

Club career

He began his senior career with Chilean Primera División club Palestino, making his professional debut in 2015 at age seventeen.[6][7] He made his debut in a Copa Chile match on 16 July 2015 against Unión Española.[8] Afterwards, he was sent on loan to Spanish club Granada B.[5][9]

In July 2017, he signed with Universidad de Concepción.[10][11]

In December 2019, he signed with La Serena for the 2020 season.[12]

In March 2021, he signed with Barnechea in the Primera B de Chile.[13]

In January 2022, he signed with Canadian Premier League club Valour FC.[14][15] However, due to visa issues, he was unable to join the team until May.[16][17][18] He scored his first goal on June 15 against Cavalry FC.[19]

In 2024, he returned to Chile and joined Unión La Calera.[20]

International career

At the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, he made two appearances for Chile U17.[21]

References

1. "Unión Española sub 17 logró un categórico triunfo ante Colo Colo" [Union Española under 17 achieved a categorical triumph against Colo Colo]. ANFP (in Spanish). 15 May 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
2. "Walter Ponce tendrá una chance en el fútbol de Canadá" [Walter Ponce will have a chance in Canadian soccer]. TNT Sports (in Spanish). 16 January 2022.
3. "La "cantera" de Palestino sigue exportando a Italia" [Palestino's "quarry" continues exporting to Italy]. ANFP (in Spanish). 31 May 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
4. Rivera, José Luis (26 October 2015). "Conoce a Walter Ponce: Potencia para el ataque de la selección chilena Sub 17" [Meet Walter Ponce: Power for the attack of the Chilean Under 17 team]. Radio Bío-Bío (in Spanish).
5. Gardella, Juan Ignacio (24 July 2018). "Walter Ponce, "el Dybala del Campanil": "Me carga la regla Sub 20, merezco jugar"" [Walter Ponce, "the Dybala del Campanil": "The Sub 20 rule burdens me, I deserve to play"]. Publimetro (in Spanish).
6. Aliaga, Martín (14 January 2022). "Exjugador de Palestino saltará al extranjero y será refuerzo en la Primera División de Canadá" [Former Palestinian player will jump abroad and will be reinforced in the First Division of Canada]. En Cancha (in Spanish).
7. Jacques, John (13 January 2022). "Valour FC Signs Chilean Forward Walter Ponce". Northern Tribune.
8. "Walter Ponce: El mundialista que busca consolidarse en Palestino" [Walter Ponce: The World Cup player who seeks to consolidate himself in Palestine]. La Tercera (in Spanish). 2 November 2015.
9. Kuschel, Daniel (28 July 2017). "Los delanteros fueron presentados ayer: Amarilla y Ponce, nuevas caras en UdeC". Diario Concepción (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
10. "Universidad de Concepción anunció dos incorporaciones para el Torneo de Transición" [Universidad de Concepción announced two additions to the Transition Tournament]. Radio Cooperativa (in Spanish). 27 July 2017.
11. "Amarilla y Ponce llegan a la UdeC" [Amarilla and Ponce arrive at the UdeC]. Diario Concepción (in Spanish). 27 July 2017.
12. "Walter Ponce se convirtió en nuevo refuerzo de Deportes La Serena" [Walter Ponce became a new reinforcement of Deportes La Serena]. Alaire Libre (in Spanish). 28 December 2019.
13. "AC Barnechea comienza a armar con todo su plantel de cara al inicio de la temporada 2021" [AC Barnechea begins to assemble its entire squad for the start of the 2021 season]. Todo Futbol (in Spanish). 5 March 2021.
14. Tait, Ed (13 January 2022). ""We think he's someone who could bring high rewards to the club." - Valour FC adds Walter Ponce". Valour FC.
15. Veth, Manuel (13 January 2022). "Valour FC sign Walter Ponce - 2nd signing from Barnechea". Transfermarkt.
16. ""He's here… finally. One (international player) down, two to go." - Ponce arrives in Winnipeg". Valour FC. 17 May 2022.
17. Jacques, John (17 May 2022). "After Long Wait, Walter Ponce Arrives To Winnipeg". Northern Tribune.
18. Axelrod, Gavin (18 May 2022). "Versatile Ponce finally joins Valour FC". Winnipeg Free Press.
19. "Valour FC's home troubles continue in loss to Cavalry FC". Winnipeg Sun. 15 June 2022.
20. "Unión La Calera presentó a Walter Ponce como su nuevo fichaje". alairelibre.cl (in Spanish). Radio Cooperativa. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
21. "Valour FC signs Chilean forward Walter Ponce". Valour FC. 13 January 2022.

External links

• Walter Ponce at Soccerway
• Walter Ponce at WorldFootball.net