The LA Galaxy have re-signed captain Maya Yoshida, a key player in their MLS championship-winning season. Yoshida, 36, led the team in minutes played and was named defensive player of the year. His contract had expired after the MLS Cup victory, but the Galaxy managed to fit him under the salary cap for a new two-season deal.
Yoshida, who has represented Japan in three World Cups, made 53 starts for the Galaxy since joining in 2023. He had a solid season, scoring two goals and providing two assists in 40 matches across all competitions. General manager Will Kuntz praised Yoshida’s leadership, competitiveness, and consistency, calling him the embodiment of a Galaxy player.
The signing of Yoshida means that the Galaxy have 10 of the 11 players who started in the MLS Cup final under contract, with midfielder Gastón Brugman being the only exception after he was traded to Nashville. The team also recently acquired Danish National team defender Mathias Jørgensen from Anderlecht and are close to finalizing a deal with Uruguayan midfielder Lucas Sanabria.
The Galaxy are shaping up to be strong contenders for the upcoming season with their key signings and a solid core of players from their championship team. Fans can look forward to seeing Yoshida continue to lead the team on the field as they defend their MLS title.
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