LOS ANGELES (Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022) – The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has signed free agent defender Kelvin Leerdam to a two-year contract through the end of the 2023 MLS regular season with a club option for 2024. Leerdam, who holds a U.S. Green Card, will not occupy an international roster slot.
Leerdam, 31, joins the Galaxy having tallied nine goals and 13 assists in 120 MLS regular-season appearances (102 starts) over the past five seasons (2017 – Present). The Paramaribo, Suriname, native began his MLS career with Seattle Sounders FC, where he notched nine goals and 12 assists in 91 league appearances (84 starts) across four seasons (2017-20). Additionally, Leerdam tallied one goal in 14 postseason appearances (11 starts) for Seattle, helping the Sounders win MLS Cup in 2019 and three Western Conference Championships (2017, 2019, 2020).
“Kelvin is an experienced, championship-winning player and we are pleased to bring him to our club,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “His quality provides more depth and versatility to our roster and we look forward to him playing an important role in the team.”
Last season, Leerdam registered one assist in 29 regular-season appearances (18 starts) for Inter Miami CF during the 2021 campaign. Prior to his time in MLS, Leerdam spent the first nine seasons of his career in the Netherlands playing for Feyenoord and SBV Vitesse in the Eredivisie. The defender began his career at Feyenoord (2008-13), where he made 97 appearances and tallied four goals and 10 assists in the Eredivisie.
“We are excited to add Kelvin’s experience and winning mentality to our team and we believe he will integrate quickly into our group,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski.
After leaving Feyenoord, Leerdam joined SBV Vitesse (2013-17), where he notched 13 goals and nine assists in 106 games across all competitions. Notably, Leerdam helped Vitesse win the 2017 KNVB Cup, the domestic cup competition in the Netherlands.
At the international level, Leerdam has made seven appearances for the Suriname Men’s National Team since starting and registering an assist in a 3-0 win over the Cayman Islands in a Concacaf World Cup Qualifier on March 24, 2021. In his most recent appearance for Suriname, Leerdam started and played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Guadeloupe in the 2021 Gold Cup on July 21, 2021.
Transaction: LA Galaxy sign free agent defender Kelvin Leerdam to a two-year contract through the end of the 2023 MLS regular season plus a club option for 2024 on Jan. 6, 2022.
Kelvin Leerdam
Position: Defender
Height: 5-10
Weight: 175
Date Of Birth: June 24, 1990
Age: 31
Birthplace: Paramaribo, Suriname
Last Club: Inter Miami CF
Citizenship: Suriname
Acquired: Signed to a two-year contract through the end of the 2023 MLS regular season plus a club option for 2024 on Jan. 6, 2022.
