CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016) – The LA Galaxy have signed defender Robbie Rogers, forward Jose Villarreal, and midfielder Rafael Garcia to new contracts, the club announced today. Per MLS and club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
All three players, born in Los Angeles, were a part of the team’s fifth and most recent championship, the 2014 MLS Cup, while Villarreal and Garcia also were a part of the Galaxy's 2012 MLS Cup-winning squad. Rogers returns to the Galaxy for his fourth-consecutive season and Villarreal and Garcia enter their fifth years with the club.
Rogers, 28, was acquired by the Galaxy in 2013 in a trade with the Chicago Fire in exchange for forward Mike Magee. The next season, the former midfielder made a move to defense under Head Coach Bruce Arena, where he became one of Major League Soccer’s best defenders. Since the former Maryland Terp made the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 24-11-13 in all MLS competitions in which Rogers appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the MLS Cup Final. Since 2013, Rogers has made 57 regular season appearances with the LA Galaxy, scoring one goal and adding six assists. He previously starred for the Columbus Crew from 2007-2011, helping the club capture the 2008 MLS Cup.
Jose Villarreal, 22, signed with the LA Galaxy as a Homegrown Player in 2012. The Inglewood, California, product has made 53 starts, scored five goals, and recorded six assists overall in MLS play during his time with the club. In 2015, Villarreal scored two goals and added a career-high four assists in just 698 MLS minutes. Villarreal also added the game-winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. Before joining the LA Galaxy, Villarreal featured for the LA Galaxy Academy and Pateadores in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy, scoring 23 goals in 36 appearances. He has also featured for U.S. Youth National Teams throughout his career.
Rafael Garcia, 27, was drafted by the LA Galaxy in the second round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft. The Grenada Hills product has been reliable in the midfield for LA, making 21 appearances and five starts in MLS play during his four-year career. In 2015, Garcia recorded career highs in appearances (10), starts (4), and minutes (338) in MLS play in addition to featuring in all four of the Galaxy’s CONCACAF Champions League group-stage matches. Garcia has also contributed to LA Galaxy II in the United Soccer League, captaining the team during the 2014 season.
The Galaxy will kick off the 2016 MLS Regular Season at StubHub Center on Sunday, March 6, against D.C. United (7 p.m. PT, UniMás). LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2016 MLS season are available for purchase now. Season Ticket Members and Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/seasontickets or call 877-3GALAXY (342-5299) to secure their 2016 LA Galaxy Season Ticket package.
Becoming a 2016 LA Galaxy Season Ticket Member gives fans the opportunity to receive a number of benefits, including discounted pricing, LA Galaxy Team Store discounts, access to the 2016 Season Ticket Member Event, season tickets to LA Galaxy II, early game day stadium access and access to LA Galaxy Champions League matches, among other exclusive benefits. For more information, visit www.lagalaxy.com/seasontickets or call an LA Galaxy representative at 877-3GALAXY (342-5299).
