Lucas Torreira

Who is Lucas Torreira?

Lucas Sebastián Torreira Di Pascua, simply known as Lucas Torreira, is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Premier League club Arsenal. Uruguay international was born on 11 February 1996 in Fray Bentos.

Lucas joined Montevideo Wanderers’ youth side before moving to Italy, where the midfielder joined Pescara’s youth side in winter 2015. Torreira played his senior game in Serie B on 16 May 2015 with Varese, playing the match as a starter.

In summer 2015, the Uruguayan midfielder was transferred to Sampdoria for €1.5m, but he stayed with Pescara on loan for the 2015–16 campaign to gain first-team experience.

In summer 2015, Lucas scored his first professional goal with Südtirol in the 2015–16 Coppa Italia.

The Uruguayan midfielder played his debut game in Serie A with Empoli. Torreira became a regular for the Blucerchiati in the 2016–17 campaign and continued showing his importance to the club in the 2017–18 campaign.

In summer 2018, Lucas joined the London club for an undisclosed fee, believed to be nearly £26m.

The 25-year-old midfielder was given the No.11 shirt, recently worn by Mesut Özil, who took the vacant No.10 following the exit of Jack Wilshere.

The Uruguayan midfielder played his debut game in the Premier League against Man City in a 2–0 defeat.

On 2 December, Lucas scored his first Arsenal goal and picked up another man-of-the-match award with Tottenham.

The Uruguayan midfielder scored a late winner with Huddersfield Town with a bicycle kick. On 5 October 2020, Lucas joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan.

On 17 October, the 25-year-old midfielder played his debut match in La Liga in a 2–0 victory over Celta Vigo.

On 31 October, Torreira came off the bench and scored his first goal for Los Colchoneros in a 3–1 La Liga victory over Osasuna.

What is Lucas Torreira’s international career like?

Lucas was born in Uruguay and is of Spanish descent through his paternal grandfather from Galicia. Torreira holds a Spanish passport and was scouted by the senior Italy national football team before being capped by Uruguay.

Lucas was called up to the senior Uruguay team for the 2018 China Cup in March 2018. Torreira played his debut game for Uruguay in the 2–0 victory over the Czech Republic in the China Cup semi-final on 23 March.

In summer 2018, Lucas was named in Uruguay’s final 23-man team for the 2018 Mundial in Russia. The competition served as a breakthrough for the 25-year-old midfielder, who played in all five of Uruguay’s matches.