LAFC has announced the return of veteran forward Carlos Vela, signing him as a free agent through the 2024 Major League Soccer season with additional options in 2025 right.
“Carlos has been instrumental in the success we have had on and off the field at LAFC,” said John Thorrington, co-president and general manager of LAFC. “He has been instrumental to our club, our It means a lot to our fans and our city. Having him back at LAFC is important to everyone involved and we are excited to have him back with the Black and Gold.”
Vela initially left the Los Angeles club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023 season.
Carlos Vera is “Black and Gold.”
📝 #los angelesfc Club legend Carlos Vela has signed a contract extension until the 2024 season, with a club option until 2025.
— Los Angeles FC (@LAFC) September 16, 2024
Despite ongoing extension talks, the two parties were unable to reach an agreement before the start of the new campaign. But now the Mexican forward is in his seventh season with LAFC.
“Los Angeles and LAFC fans are very important to me and my family,” Vera said. “LAFC is a special club and I’m proud of everything we’ve built here. I’m excited to return to LAFC and do whatever I can to help the team achieve great things.”
Vela first joined the Western Conference giants in August 2017 and became the team’s first designated player before the first season.
He led LAFC to a record-breaking season, winning the 2019 and 2022 Supporters’ Shields and the 2022 MLS Cup.
He also led the team to the 2020 and 2023 CONCACAF Champions League finals and the 2023 MLS Cup finals, but the team failed miserably in all three games.
Personally, Vela won the 2019 MLS Golden Boot and MLS MVP awards after scoring a record-breaking 34 goals in 31 games. He continues to hold the league record for most goals in a season by a player. To date, he has appeared in 152 games for Los Angeles, scoring 78 goals and 58 assists, cementing himself as the club’s all-time goals and assists leader.
The forward will join Denis Bouanga, Mateusz Bogus and Olivier Giroud in attack as LAFC attempt to win a second MLS Cup. The team currently has 48 points in 27 games, with a record of 14 wins, 7 draws and 6 losses (WLD), ranking second in the Western Conference standings.
