CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Thursday the club had re-signed Mexican youth international Viggo Ortiz to a USL Academy contract for the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 16-year-old attacking midfielder returns for his second season with the Battery. Ortiz first joined the Battery on a USL Academy contract in September 2024, and was named in the matchday squad on four occasions in the latter stages of the regular season.

This preseason, Ortiz featured in the matches against Austin FC and D.C. United in Florida, and is currently competing with the Mexico U-17 national team in Concacaf U-17 World Cup Qualifying in Mexico. Should Mexico and Ortiz win their group, they will directly qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Ortiz has a chance to follow in the footsteps of former Battery winger Fidel Barajas, who won the 2023 edition of the tournament and qualified for the U-17 World Cup that year. Altogether, Ortiz has earned four caps with the U-17 national team. He previously featured for the U-15 national team (eight caps, one goal), helping lead Mexico to the 2023 Concacaf U-15 Championship Final, and the U-16 national team (three caps).

“Viggo is a young player who got better every day with our club last year, he takes on information well and has a great growth mindset,” said Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “Viggo has shown his ability to take players on one-on-one while utilizing his dribbling skills to create and finish chances. As he continues to grow physically and mentally, he will improve out of possession and become even more of a complete player.”

A Dallas native, Ortiz previously competed with the Austin FC Academy at the U-15 and U-17 levels from 2022 to 2024 where he was one of the club’s top prospects. He led the Austin U-15 team to victory in the 2023 Generation adidas Cup, earning tournament MVP and Best XI honors in the process.