After a long flirt with MLS, particularly Atlanta United, Mexican international Andres Guardado is reportedly set to join a U.S.-based team, but a bit further west than expected.
Following the FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, Guardado is reportedly set to join Los Angeles FC as the team’s first DP, according to ESPN. The Mexican midfielder reportedly already has a flight set to the U.S. after the conclusion of the tournament, where he will join LAFC on a four-year contract as the figurehead of their upcoming 2018 debut season.
Guardado was long the subject of MLS rumors, and was heavily linked with one of the two most recent expansion teams, Atlanta United, before the deal reportedly fell through and Atlanta signed Josef Martinez instead. Guardado joins from PSV Eindhoven of the Dutch Eredivisie, where he’s played since 2014 after departing La Liga club Valencia CF.
The 30-year old has featured prominently for the Mexican National Team, making 133 appearances and scoring 24 goals for his country. His signing would continue a trend of MLS targeting Mexican internationals, as the league has also been linked to Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, as well as Jonathan dos Santos, brother of the LA Galaxy’s Giovani dos Santos.