The MLS champion Galaxy traded middle again Jalen Neal to Montreal on Monday for $650,000 in earmarked cash. It’s the second important commerce the staff has made since profitable the MLS Cup a month in the past, following the December transfer that despatched midfielder Gastón Brugman, the league’s Most Valuable Player, to Nashville.
But the most recent commerce is a shock given Neal’s age — he is 21 — and his club-friendly wage, which paid him $178,625 final season, his second with the staff. Hours after information of the commerce leaked, Neal was known as as much as the nationwide staff for January’s coaching camp.
The Galaxy may also obtain a global roster spot within the deal and can retain a sell-on proportion of any switch charge if Neal is offered to a different membership.
The Galaxy are below stress to commerce wage to suit below the $5.95 million MLS wage cap in 2025 after two gamers, ahead Dejan Joveljic and winger Gabriel Pec, aged out of contracts which have solely undergone restricted hits to the roof. However, Monday’s commerce leaves the Galaxy with solely two central defenders below contract: Emiro Garcés and Eriq Zavaleta. The staff mentioned it stays in talks with middle again Maya Yoshida, the Galaxy captain whose contract expired final month. The staff have additionally been linked to Ecuadorian centre-back Diogo Bagüí, 19, and Denmark’s Mathias Jorgensen. A cope with Jorgensen is claimed to be shut, folks conversant in the negotiations who weren’t approved to debate them advised the Times publicly.
Neal, initially from Lakewood, joined the Galaxy Academy in 2016 earlier than making his MLS debut in 2023, when he made 14 appearances. He has additionally began 14 video games in current seasons and made 34 appearances total regardless of lacking 11 months with a sports activities hernia and adductor accidents that required a number of surgical procedures.
At worldwide stage he has made six appearances for the senior nationwide staff. Neal has additionally been named the Galaxy’s Humanitarian of the Year for the previous two seasons in recognition of his group work.
“Jalen exemplifies what it means to be a Galaxy Academy graduate, each as knowledgeable and as an individual,” common supervisor Will Kuntz mentioned in a press release. “His development from the academy, to Galaxy II, to his nationwide staff debut to being on the pitch for the ultimate whistle of the MLS Cup remaining, speaks volumes in regards to the potential of the Galaxy’s skilled growth journey.
“But Jalen’s devotion to his area people and energetic dedication to service at such a younger age is a fair higher testomony to the particular character and human being he’s. We are indescribably happy with every part Jalen has carried out for the Galaxy.”
