Transfer Tracker

LA Galaxy re-sign center back Eriq Zavaleta

Eriq Zavaleta

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Re-signed

The LA Galaxy have re-signed El Salvador international defender Eriq Zavaleta to a new deal through the 2024 MLS season, the club announced Tuesday.

The 30-year-old was out of contract after spending the 2022 campaign with LA, making six appearances across all competitions.

A veteran center back, Zavaleta has played in 144 MLS regular-season games across stops with Seattle Sounders FC (2013), Chivas USA (2014), Toronto FC (2015-21) and the Galaxy (2022-present). At the international level, Zavaleta has tallied two goals in 19 games played for El Salvador since debuting in 2021.Ā 

Zavaleta projects as a depth piece for LA, who count SĆ©ga Coulibaly, MartĆ­n CĆ”ceres and Chris Mavinga as other experienced options. They also have homegrowns Marcus Ferkranus and Jalen Neal, the latter of whom is primed for more first-team minutes after making his US menā€™s national team debut last month.

LA open the 2023 season with an El Trafico clash against defending MLS Cup champions LAFC at the Rose Bowl on Feb. 25 (9:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass). They returned to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022, losing in the Western Conference Semifinals to their cross-city rival.