The LA Galaxy have signed 25-year-old midfielder Perry Kitchen, the club announced today. Kitchen, the former D.C. United Player of the Year and MLS Rookie of the Year finalist, will join the Galaxy after two years in Europe playing in the top-flight divisions of Scotland and Denmark.
“Perry has proven himself to be a top midfielder in Major League Soccer during his time with D.C. United,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. “He has continued to progress during his time in Europe and we are confident he can bolster our midfield. At only 25 years old, Perry is already an MLS veteran and will be a great addition to the LA Galaxy on and off the field.”
Kitchen was drafted with the 3rd overall selection by D.C. United in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft after having signed a Generation adidas contract. In his first season with the club, he made 30 starts while earning honors as a finalist for 2011 MLS Rookie of the Year for his standout play. He went on to make 158 appearances, starting 155 matches, during his time with the Eastern Conference side while being named D.C. United’s Player of the Year in 2013, the same season in which Perry helped United to the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy.
Following his time in MLS, the Indianapolis product joined Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Premier League in 2016. In his first year with the club, Kitchen was named team captain and went on to make 45 total appearances during his time there, including Europa League Qualifying contests. He joined Randers FC earlier this year before making nine appearances in Denmark.
Internationally, Kitchen has appeared for various U.S. Men’s National sides, including time with the U-17 and U-20 Men’s National Teams and the U.S. Olympic Qualifying squad. On Feb. 8, 2015, Kitchen earned his first cap with the Senior National Team at StubHub Center in a 2-0 win over Panama. Since then, he has made an additional four appearances with the USMNT.
The Galaxy sign Kitchen after re-signing defender Ashley Cole and midfielder Baggio Husidic, acquiring Venezuelan defender Rolf Feltscher, Norwegian defender Jorgen Skjelvik, acquiring the rights to former San Jose goalkeeper David Bingham and selecting Servando Carrasco in Stage Two of the MLS Re-entry Draft.
Kitchen and the LA Galaxy will open the 2018 MLS Regular Season at StubHub Center on Sunday, March 4, at 7 p.m. PT against Portland Timbers FC. Tickets to the general public are on sale now on www.lagalaxy.com.
Transaction: LA Galaxy trade $100,000 in General Allocation Money and $200,000 in Targeted Allocation Money to D.C. United for rights to midfielder Perry Kitchen; LA Galaxy sign American midfielder Perry Kitchen using Targeted Allocation Money
