LA Galaxy have signed midfielder Jaime Villarreal as an MLS Homegrown Player, the club announced today. Villarreal, 21, joins after standout stints with Galaxy Academy and LA Galaxy II. Joining the Galaxy Academy in August 2011 at the age of 16, Villarreal spent more than five years in the Galaxy organization before inking a first team contract. The LA Galaxy have 20 total players across LA Galaxy and LA Galaxy II that have come through the club’s developmental system.
“Jaime is a player that has grown up in our system while excelling with LA Galaxy II,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Pete Vagenas. “We are confident that success can continue with the first team and we are excited to add him to our roster.”
Villarreal, from Inglewood, Calif., becomes the seventh LA Galaxy Homegrown Player on the LA Galaxy, joining Gyasi Zardes, Jose Villarreal, Raul Mendiola, Bradford Jamieson IV, Jack McBean and Hugo Arellano.
Villarreal signed his first professional contract with LA Galaxy II on July 24, 2014 before re-signing with the USL club again in 2016. In total, Villarreal made 61 appearances under former LA Galaxy II Head Coach Curt Onalfo.
In his time with the LA Galaxy Academy, Villarreal tallied over 30 goals for the Galaxy U-18 and U-16 squads. In the U-18’s 2013-14 season, Villarreal scored 10 goals to help lead his team to a 19-3-5 record and the Southwest Division Championship in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. He was named LA Galaxy Academy Player of the Year in 2014.
The LA Galaxy will open the 2017 MLS Regular Season this weekend at StubHub Center when they take on 2016 MLS Supporters’ Shield winners FC Dallas on Saturday, March 4 at 1 p.m. PT live on Univision. Tickets to the LA Galaxy’s home opener, along with all Galaxy home games at StubHub Center, are on sale now at www.lagalaxy.com/tickets. For a full 2017 LA Galaxy schedule, visit www.lagalaxy.com/schedule.
LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2017 MLS season are available for purchase now.Season Ticket Members and Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/tickets/seasontickets to secure their 2017 LA Galaxy Season Ticket package.
