LAFC

LAFC News: LA Adds Experience to Backfield Before MLS Restart

While MLS is preparing to make its season comeback in Orlando, Florida next month, LAFC made a move to shore up its roster with the signing of veteran defender Andy Najar. 

https://twitter.com/Andy_Najar1993/status/1273074555968352257?s=20

The 27-year-old has spent the last seven years playing across the pond for Anderlecht which is in Belgium’s top division. However, before those seven years, Najar started his career with D.C. United in which he played for from 2010-2012. Despite his success so far he hasn’t played in a match since May of 2019 due to a knee injury that he has been recovering from. 

It shouldn’t be a surprise that he signed with the club as he has been training with them since early February. Amid the signing of Najar, LAFC general manager John Thorrington spoke highly of the defender’s talent. 

“His resume, both in MLS and in Europe, speaks for itself and we’re confident that his experience and versatility will only complement the group as we begin our return to play.” 

Najar’s resume includes being the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year, playing for Honduras in the 2014 World Cup, as well as 14 goals and 16 assists while playing in some of the top leagues that Europe has to offer. Najar is eligible to join the club on July 1 and will be eligible to join the team during the MLS restart tournament. The inclusion of Najar would be greatly beneficial to the team as they traded former right-back, Walker Zimmerman, to Nashville and moved Tristan Blackmon to fill the hole. Najar could be slated into the starting right-back position which could move Blackmon back to the center. 

While it isn’t a huge signing by any means, Najar brings experience and talent back to an LAFC club that is seeking to build on an early exit in last year’s conference finals loss to the Seattle Sounders. 

Adam Salcido

“That is the way this game is -- you win, you lose, you celebrate and you suffer.” -- Vin Scully
Back to top button