LOS ANGELES– The LA Galaxy have signed re-signed midfielder Chris Pontius, the club announced today. Pontius, 31, is a 10-year MLS veteran who joined the Galaxy in January and went on to record five goals and six assists in 26 appearances for LA during the 2018 MLS Regular Season. In all, Pontius has scored 50 goals and added 35 assists in MLS during his time with LA, D.C. United and the Philadelphia Union.
“We are pleased to re-sign Chris and bring him back to our club,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “Chris showed his value and versatility last year and was an important member of our squad. He is an asset on and off the field and we look forward to his continued contributions to our club.”
Pontius signed with the LA Galaxy in January ahead of the team’s 2018 MLS Regular Season. During regular season play with LA, he recorded 26 appearances, making 15 starts, scoring five goals and adding six assists, including one game-winning goal.
A product of Yorba Linda, California, Pontius was originally drafted with the 7th overall selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United following a standout career at University of California, Santa Barbara. He represented United until 2015, where he captured the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and earned honors as a 2012 MLS All Star. He then joined the Philadelphia Union in 2016 and went on to score 12 goals and notch seven assists that year while earning honors as the 2016 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
During his time at the UCSB, Pontius was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist in his Senior year in 2008 and was also a College Soccer News All-American Second Team, and an NSCAA All-American Third Team representative. He also won the Big West offensive player of the year in his junior year.
Internationally, Pontius had been called up to several U.S. Men’s National Team camps before earning his first cap in January 2017 in a friendly contest against Serbia. In all, he has made five appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including three during the USMNT’s 2017 Gold Cup-winning campaign.
Click here to buy an LA Galaxy Holiday Pack
