Former MLS MVP Carlos Vela is finalizing a deal to return to the club, an AP source says
By GREG BEACHAM
Posted 9/13/24
Los Angeles FC is finalizing a deal to re-sign former Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela for the playoff push, a person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Former MLS MVP Carlos Vela is finalizing a deal to return to the club, an AP source says
FILE - Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela chases the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Real Salt Lake on Oct. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Posted
By GREG BEACHAM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles FC is finalizing a deal to re-sign former Major League Soccer MVP Carlos Vela for the playoff push, a person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday night because the deal hasn't been completed. The move is expected to be formally announced in the coming days as LAFC gears up to chase its second MLS title.
Vela was the first player in LAFC history when the Mexican star left Real Sociedad to sign with the expansion MLS club, which began play in 2018. Vela was a dominant MLS forward for a half-decade with LAFC, and he won the league's MVP award in 2019 while also leading MLS in goals.
The 35-year-old Vela also was a key member of LAFC's MLS Cup championship team in 2022, but he has been out of soccer since last winter, when his LAFC contract ended and wasn't renewed.
Vela, who scored nine goals last season, was linked to moves back to Mexico or Europe, but he stayed on the market while LAFC fans regularly called for his return.
Vela should add even more offensive production to a roster headlined by former Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga, Mateusz Bogusz and newcomer Olivier Giroud, who has played in two matches after joining the club from AC Milan this summer. Bouanga's 16 goals this season are good for third in MLS.
Vela has 78 goals and 58 assists in 152 career regular season games for LAFC.
LAFC is second in the Western Conference standings, trailing the LA Galaxy by four points with two games in hand. LAFC and the Galaxy meet in Carson on Saturday night for the next edition of the El Trafico rivalry.