LOS ANGELES (Thursday, July 15, 2021) – The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has signed Mexican international and Homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez to a two-year contract extension through the end of the 2023 MLS regular season with a club option for 2024. Alvarez, 19, will occupy an MLS U22 Initiative roster spot.
In four seasons with the Galaxy (2018 – present) since signing from LA Galaxy II in 2018, Alvarez has tallied four goals and five assists in 41 games played (18 starts) across all competitions for the club.
“Efrain is a top, young attacking talent and has an exciting future ahead of him in LA and for the Mexican National Team,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “The Galaxy are committed to fostering talent from within the academy and Efrain’s contract extension further cements that responsibility. I would like to thank Efrain’s family and his agents at Wasserman Media Group on working through this negotiation. They have always held Efrain’s professional development and his pathway as the highest priority.”
During the 2021 MLS regular-season, Alvarez has scored one goal in nine appearances (6 starts) for LA. Last season, Alvarez appeared in a career-high 16 matches (6 starts) and added one goal and two assists. During the 2019 campaign, Alvarez notched a career-high three assists in 14 games played (4 starts) for the Galaxy.
The Los Angeles, Calif., native signed his first professional contract with LA Galaxy II as a 15-year-old on Aug. 2, 2017, becoming, at the time, the youngest signing in USL Championship history. In his first season as a professional in 2017, Alvarez made one appearance for Los Dos. During the 2018 USL Championship regular season, Alvarez registered a team-high 12 goals and four assists in 17 games played (13 starts). At the conclusion of the 2018 campaign, Alvarez was named the 2018 USL Young Player of the Year.
While with the LA Galaxy Boys’ Academy, Alvarez led the U-17/18s to the USSDA Championships at StubHub Center in July of 2017, scoring in the team’s quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches.
At the international level, Alvarez has made four appearances for the Mexico Men’s National Team, most recently playing seven minutes as a second-half substitute in Mexico’s 3-0 win over Guatemala in Concacaf Gold Cup action on July 14. Notably, Alvarez tallied four goals and two assists in seven games played (5 starts) for Mexico at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup, helping them reach the final of the tournament.
Transaction: LA Galaxy sign homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez as an MLS U22 Initiative player to a two-year contract extension through the end of the 2023 MLS regular season with a club option for 2024 on July 15, 2021.
