Erick Carlos Noriega Loret de Mola was born on 22 October 2001 in Nagoya, Japan, to a Peruvian family. He spent time in the Alianza Lima youth structure before moving to Japan, where he entered the Shimizu S-Pulse system and experienced a very different football culture at a formative age.
His route to senior football was unusual: limited opportunities in Japan led him back toward Peru through Universidad San Martín and Comerciantes Unidos. In 2024 he joined Alianza Lima and quickly showed that his mix of centre-back and defensive-midfield traits could work at a higher domestic level.
In 2025 he moved to Grêmio in Brazil, a major step into one of South America's most demanding leagues. By 2026 he was being used by Grêmio as a defender or midfielder, valued for composure, aerial presence and the ability to play the first pass under pressure.
For Peru he had eligibility layers because of his Japanese birthplace and youth experience, but he committed to Peru and debuted during the 2020s. He has been part of the 2026-cycle renewal, offering the national team a hybrid option at centre-back or holding midfield.
Standing around 1.85 m, Noriega is a right-footed defensive player whose versatility is his defining trait. He can resemble Renato Tapia when stepping into midfield, while at centre-back his calmness and passing angles bring to mind a taller, more physical Luis Abram.