Victoria Highlanders player Tynan Diaz is headed to England.

The 23-year-old defender is hitting the British pitch with the Austin Aztex next month through a partnership with the two teams.

The Texas-based United Soccer League Div 1 team also has an affiliation with the Stoke City team. The Aztex will play games against English Premiership League teams Stoke City and Burnley on Oct. 14 and 20.

“It’s basically a dream come true,” said Diaz, a native of Australia. “I definitely see this as an opportunity to further my status and my career.”

It’s a chance for Diaz to see what it’s like to play with the pros and maybe even land a spot among them.

He trained with the Aztex briefly this summer, but it was a last minute placement on the field during a Sept. 15 exhibition game that sealed the deal.

Normally a defender, Diaz was moved to midfield moments before the game started. His versatility is part of what appealed to the Aztex, said Highlanders general manager Drew Finerty.

“They thought of me as a defender and they actually saw me play in the midfield,” Diaz said. “As the game went on I started to play my feet. I felt really comfortable.”

He flies to Austin, Texas Oct. 2 to train with the Aztex before heading to England Oct. 12.

During the 10-day trip there will be training opportunities as well as the two matches. It’s a chance to show the Aztex what he can do and hopefully land a position on the team, he said.

“It will help him to grow as a player and to see how far away he is (from the professional level),” Finerty said. “After what we saw (during last week’s game), I don’t think he is that far. I would say it’s a 50/50 chance whether we get him back.”

“It’s a bit hard for me to wrap my head around right now,” Diaz said.

It’s been a whirlwind season with the Highlanders, Diaz said, and he is grateful for the opportunities it afforded.

“If nothing comes of Texas or any other teams I’ll definitely stay with Highlanders (for another season),” Diaz said.

The experience he would bring back would benefit the entire team, Finerty said.

“For one of our players to go there and get 10 days to be in that culture, will give him so much more value to come back and be a leader on our team, which he already is,” Finerty said.

Diaz is looking to a future in professional soccer, but for now, he is focusing on the opportunities directly in front of him.

“I probably made the mistake younger in my career of looking too far, too quickly,” Diaz said. “I am really aiming for short-term goals. To be on the Aztex side would be a definite goal of mine. I’m just going to take it short steps and go for the goals that are realistic to me.”

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