CARSON, Calif. – Sebastian Lletget has a chance at a fresh start with his move to the LA Galaxy, and the 22-year-old midfielder is intending to make the most of it.
Lletget joined the LA Galaxy officially last Friday after spending the last five years with English Premier League club West Ham United. Signed by the Hammers in 2009, the Northern California native made just one first team appearance during his five years in East London, coming in an FA Cup match a year ago.
The signing ended a long courtship between the Galaxy and the former U.S. youth international who trained with the club extensively during their preseason trip in Ireland. After years of playing with the West Ham U-21’s in England, Lletget is eager for first team soccer with the Galaxy.
“It was an option around January as I looked for other options before my contract was terminated… it was four months in the making but it finally got done,” Lletget told reporters after Galaxy training on Tuesday. “I’m so happy because I feel wanted here; we have a good group of guys, great coaching staff and fantastic facilities.”
With his time at West Ham being severely limited due to injuries –including an unfortunate spell of mono that forced him to miss the entire 2012 season just as he was breaking into the first team—the new Galaxy midfielder has no ill will toward the Hammers.
“My career was basically on a standstill for a long time. I got little tastes here or there but I was never thrown in. I respect that club and I will always respect that club,” said Lletget. “I learned a lot. You can always say there are regrets now, but now that I’m here [with the Galaxy]; I think that everything worked out the way it is.“
Lletget describes himself as an aggressive “creative” midfielder who can play centrally in a classic No. 10 role but can also move to the flanks. Not a true winger, Lletget says that he is more a wide player that tucks into the center of the park in the mold of Stefan Ishizaki.
“He’s a good midfielder; he can play centrally and out wide. He’s certainly not a winger but he could play out wide. He’s technically good, he’s a good alert player,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena told reporters on Tuesday. “We get better technically in the midfield, and once he’s there it allows us to move some other players in their best positions and the best formations that we can put together. It all gets a little bit better.”
Arena confirmed that the Galaxy have received the midfielder’s International Transfer Certificate which deems him eligible for Sunday’s clash with Orlando City SC.
After his first day of training with the Galaxy, Lletget believes that he is close to match fitness after training extensively with the West Ham first team recently, and having played in a U-21 match just two weeks ago, while the two teams worked out the particulars of his deal.
“I’m ready,” Lletget said. “I’ve kept fit. Maybe I have lacked minutes but I’ve trained, played friendlies, and kept up in the gym. I’m ready.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
