Ceres native Cade Cowell earned Liga MX Player of the Month honors for July.

The announcement was made on Aug. 19.

Cowell was recognized for scoring three goals and dishing out one assist during Chivas de Guadalajara’s first four matches of the 2024-25 season.

“It’s a huge honor to win Player of the Month over all of the great players in the league,” the 20-year-old forward said. “Super happy but I can’t get complacent.”

Cowell helped lead Chivas to a 2-1-1 record in July.

He scored in three consecutive matches.

He collected one goal and one assist in a 4-2 loss to Club Tijuana on July 12 at Caliente Stadium.

He tallied one goal in a 2-0 victory against Queretaro on July 16 at Corregidora Stadium.

He had one goal in a 2-0 win against Mazatlan FC on July 20 at Akron Stadium.

Liga MX didn’t select a Player of the Month for August as its teams competed in the Leagues Cup along with Major League Soccer clubs.

Cowell totaled three goals and three assists through Chivas’ first six matches.

He’s enjoying a breakout season during his second year with the Liga MX club.

“I wouldn’t say I’m different,” said Cowell, who totaled four goals and two assist last season. “But maybe more comfortable with the guys and living in a new country.”

“My fitness has gotten a lot better,” he added. “The elevation in Mexico is very high so it was difficult to breathe and playing with a lot of confidence that always helps.”

Cowell and Chivas have high hopes for the season.

“The team expectation is to take home our 13th league trophy,” he said. “That would be amazing. Individually, I just want to help the team as much as I can with goals and assists.”

Chivas acquired Cowell from the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS in January of 2024.  

The Earthquakes received a club-record fee of $4-plus million from the Liga MX club.

Cowell is the first U.S. National team player to suit up for Chivas.

“I’m looking forward to just getting a fresh start,” Cowell stated following his signing. “I cannot wait to play in front of these crowds and in a culture that loves soccer in the way that they do. Things will be more challenging here. But I’m looking forward to the competition and getting better as a player. This club will give me the resources to do that.”

Cowell spent five seasons with the Earthquakes.

A Homegrown Player, Cowell signed a first-team contract with San Jose in January of 2019.

The Quakes Academy product collected 10 goals and 15 assists in 104 appearances.

 Cowell set numerous age-specific Earthquakes records during his tenure, including youngest player to make his MLS debut (16 years, 150 days), youngest player to make an MLS start (16 years, 325 days), and youngest player to score an MLS goal (16 years, 325 days).

Cowell made MLS history in 2021 by becoming the youngest player selected to the All-Star Team. He was one of two players chosen by Commissioner Don Garber.

He became the youngest player in MLS history to make 100 league appearances and was selected to the MLS 22 Under 22 list for the third consecutive year (2021-23) this past season.

Cowell joined the Quakes Academy from local club Ballistic United after the 2017-18 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, when he led the nation with 34 goals in 32 appearances at the Under-15 level. 

Nearly seven months later, Cowell ascended to the professional ranks.

He became the youngest first-team player in Earthquakes and Bay Area team sports history (15 years, 102 days), as well as the fourth-youngest signing ever in MLS history at the time.

Cowell has earned eight caps with the U.S. Men’s National Team, making his debut in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina in December of 2021. He represented the U.S. in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, where he made five appearances and scored his first goal at the senior international level in a 6-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

Cowell has also represented the U.S. at the U-16, U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. He played with the U.S. U-20 National Team in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, leading the squad with three goals and helping Team USA reach the quarterfinals.

Cowell was invited to the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team September training camp last Thursday.

Cowell started playing soccer at the age of four under grandfather Ed’s tutelage.

He spent two seasons in the Ceres Youth Soccer Organization’s recreational league.

Cowell played 71/2 years of competitive soccer, including two with the Ceres Earthquakes FC, three with the Modesto Ajax, and 21/2 with the Ballistic United Academy.