Carlos Vela Signs With LAFC as Club's First Designated Player

LAFC has signed its first star ahead of its debut season, as Mexican international Carlos Vela will join the team from Real Sociedad.

Alexander Abnos | Aug 8, 2017

Carlos Vela Signs With LAFC as Club's First Designated Player /

Slowly but surely, the bravado surrounding LAFC's entry into Major League Soccer is turning into a reality. The Banc of California Stadium is under construction, the team has hired a big-name coach in Bob Bradley, and had already signed two players to its inaugural roster before today.

Now, that number is reportedly set to expand to three. The 2018 MLS expansion club took another big step in their team-building process this week, with the LA Times breaking news that the team has signed Mexican international forward Carlos Vela to a Designated Player contract. Vela becomes the club's first DP signing.

Real Sociedad later announced that Vela will join MLS for preseason in January after playing the first half of this season in Europe, while Vela himself confirmed the move to LAFC in a Twitter post later on Tuesday evening:

My new Club in 2018. @LAFC pic.twitter.com/hR0tZ8eLFI
— carlos vela (@11carlosV) August 8, 2017

The signing of Vela figures to be as much boon to LAFC off the field as it might be on it. Vela is a bona fide Mexican national team star, albeit one that didn't play for the national team for a three year period that included the 2014 World Cup due to various personal conflicts with the confederation and the team's myriad coaches. Since returning, though, Vela has been a key part of Mexico's run in the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2015 Gold Cups. In Vela, LAFC gets an instantly-marketable star for its community, as well as one that can contribute a fair amount on the field.

Potential, future soccer stadiums in America

North Carolina FC

The Raleigh bid for an MLS expansion team unveiled a stadium plan for a downtown venue within the boundaries of Peace St., Salisbury St., Lane St. and the N.C. Railroad easement.

Miami

David Beckham's ownership group in Miami has released a rendering for a stadium in the Overtown neighborhood, the latest desired site for an MLS expansion bid that kicked off in 2014.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati doesn't yet have a nailed-down location for an MLS stadium, but the expansion hopeful has released renderings for a 25,000-seat stadium inspired by Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Portland Timbers

The Timbers are adding 4,000 seats as part of a $50 million renovation to Providence Park.

Atlanta United FC

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