Photo by ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Omar Gonzalez will be staying in Los Angeles, after all.
The LA Galaxy announced in a press conference on Thursday afternoon that they have signed Gonzalez to a Designated Player deal, making him the first American defender to become a DP. Gonzalez is now the Galaxy’s third Designated Player, joining forward Robbie Keane and versatile attacker Landon Donovan.
Gonzalez, who was in the final year of his contract prior to signing the DP deal, has helped the Galaxy win the previous two MLS Cups. He was named MLS Cup MVP in 2012 after scoring the game-winner in a 3-1 triumph over the Houston Dynamo and has been a regular on Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. Men’s National Team rosters this year.
The 24-year-old defender was drafted out of Maryland in 2009 and won the MLS Defender of the Year award in 2011. He had recently been attracting attention from a number of foreign clubs, but ultimately chose to stick with the team that gave him his professional start.
Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
What do you make of the Galaxy’s decision to sign Gonzalez as a Designated Player? Surprised? Wishing he would have moved abroad instead?
Share your thoughts below.