WATCH: Robbie Rogers training session with LA Galaxy (April 30, 2013)
CARSON, Calif. (Saturday, May 25, 2013) – The LA Galaxy today completed the signing of midfielder Robbie Rogers to a multi-year contract after acquiring the right of first refusal for him from the Chicago Fire in exchange for midfielder Mike Magee. Rogers, who will wear the No. 14 shirt, will be officially added to the Galaxy roster upon the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and could be eligible to make his debut for the club on Sunday when the Galaxy host Seattle Sounders FC at The Home Depot Center. That game, which is presented by Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, kicks off at 8 p.m. (PT).
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“I’d like to thank everyone at Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy and the Chicago Fire for allowing me to return to playing the game that I love,” Rogers said. “I look forward to getting back out onto the field and continuing my soccer career as a member of the Galaxy.”
READ: MLS Commissioner Don Garber on Robbie Rogers: "A courageous man and a terrific soccer player"
A native of Huntington Beach, Calif., Rogers won an NCAA Championship with the University of Maryland in 2005 before signing his first professional contract with Dutch club Heerenveen. After a year-and-a-half in Holland, Rogers returned to the United States and signed with the Columbus Crew ahead of the start of the 2007 MLS season. After appearing in 10 games with the Crew in his first season with the club, Rogers enjoyed a breakout season in 2008, scoring a career-high six goals to go along with three assists, earning MLS Best XI honors and helping the Crew win their first MLS Cup championship.
“We are pleased to be able to add a player of Robbie’s qualities to our roster and feel that he will help improve our team now and in the future,” LA Galaxy General Manager and Head Coach Bruce Arena said. “It is also important to recognize Mike Magee and all of his accomplishments with our club. What he and his teammates have achieved over the past four years has been remarkable and we wish nothing but the best to him and his family as they begin this next chapter of their lives.”
READ: Armchair Analyst: Robbie Rogers for Mike Magee? Everybody wins this one
WATCH: Robbie Rogers MLS Highlights
Rogers would play three more seasons with the Crew, helping them reach the postseason each time before leaving the club following the completion of the 2011 season. In five years with the Crew, Rogers appeared in 106 regular season games, scoring 13 goals and adding 16 assists while adding two goals in nine playoff games. He signed with Leeds United of the English Championship (second division) in January 2012 and appeared in four games, making one start, for the club that season. Ahead of the start of the 2012-13 season, Rogers joined Stevenage of England’s League One (third division) on loan and appeared in nine games in all competitions for the club before returning to Leeds in January and leaving the club by mutual consent.
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In addition to his club career, Rogers has earned 18 caps with the U.S. National Team, scoring twice. After representing the U.S. at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rogers made his full international debut in January 2009 in a friendly win over Sweden at The Home Depot Center. A member of the U.S. squad at the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Rogers scored his first-ever international goal in a 4-0 win over Grenada in the 2009 Gold Cup. His second goal for the U.S. came in Jurgen Klinsmann’s first game as National Team head coach, scoring the game-tying goal in a 1-1 draw with Mexico in Philadelphia. The Chicago Fire acquired Rogers’ MLS rights in a trade with the Columbus Crew in February.
In exchange for the right to sign Rogers, the Galaxy sent midfielder Mike Magee to the Fire. A native of Chicago, Magee joined the Galaxy ahead of the start of the 2009 season after six seasons with the MetroStars/New York Red Bulls. In four plus seasons with the Galaxy, Magee helped the club reach MLS Cup three times, winning back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012 while also winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2010 and 2011. In 105 regular season games with LA, Magee scored 19 goals and added 11 assists, including a team-best six goals so far in 2013, with three of those goals coming in the season opening victory over the Fire. Magee was even better in the postseason, tallying eight goals and an assist in 18 games for the club.
