Alexis Iturria Takes Lessons Learned on the Fields at Clayton State to the Large Stadiums of Professional Soccer in South America
(July 28, 2025) - Hard work, practice, and discipline were the keys to Alexis Iturria’s success on and off the field when he was a student athlete at Clayton State University. The former Clayton State men’s soccer star and graduate has taken those skills he learned on the field in Morrow, Georgia to the larger soccer stadiums of South America were he recently signed a professional contract with Second Division club Paysandu Futbol Club in Uruguay.
Making the transition from the Peach Belt Conference to the Pros happened very quickly and the way Alexis tells the story, it was just like a Hollywood movie. “I sent the team some videos and they were really impressed and wanted me to come as soon as possible and within that week of being there they signed me. It was unbelievable because everything happened so fast. It felt like a dream.”
It has been a big change in his life, but Alexis is taking it all in stride and enjoying every moment of this tremendous opportunity. He gets a lot of energy from the fans who cheer for him in the stadium and even stop him in the street to take a photo with him. Alexis describes the fans in Uruguay as extremely “passionate because they love the beautiful game.” He describes the game day experience inside the stadium as a “very large crowd compared to college games. And yes, it’s noisier but it doesn’t affect me negatively, it motivates me.”
When asked what lessons he learned at Clayton State that he can utilize as a professional soccer player, Alexis explained the fundamental skills and traits of a successful college athlete are still keys to his success in the Pros. “Playing with confidence, being disciplined, and also being a team player knowing that we all win and lose as a team and it’s not an individual’s game.”
Even with all the excitement and adulation that comes with playing soccer at the professional level, he still was very appreciative of his time at Clayton State. Alexis shared that he was a proud Laker, and he fondly remembers, “Just being a college student and having that college experience. Also representing Clayton State University as a student-athlete.”
When asked what advice he has for Clayton State student athletes who would like to follow in his footsteps, Alexis shared words of inspiration. “Keep chasing your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Only you can stop yourself from achieving your dream. Never give up hope.” When asked if there was a secret to his success, Alexis added “There’s no secret, it’s all about being disciplined! Without discipline you can’t achieve your goals.”
Alexis is the 24th Laker in the Athletics program history to sign a professional contract and the first CSU athlete to play in Uruguay.
Below is a full list of Lakers in the Pros:
| Name | League/Country |
|---|---|
| Adrian Drury | England |
| Nick Punter | England |
| Josh Grenier | Germany |
| Tony Madegwa | Germany |
| Jamal Geathers | Turkey/USL |
| Haliab Habtom | Sweden |
| Chris Mahaffey* | USL |
| Mike Gustavson | MLS |
| Marijan Babic | Bosnia/Herzegovina |
| Kyle Timm | South Africa |
| Janny Rivera | Chile/USL |
| Kevin Rodriguez | USL |
| Chris Klute | MLS |
| Johnny Lara | Mexico |
| Ivan Asteghene | Italy |
| Alhagi Toure | Spain |
| Nikola Gazibara | Serbia |
| Avery Shepard | NPSL |
| Dionysius Harmon | USL |
| Theo Blanchon | France |
| Macoumba Kandji* | MLS/Finland |
| Langston Blackstock | USL |
| Geo Rios | NISA |
| Alexis Iturria | Uruguay |
*Signed Professional contract before attending Clayton State University