TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing
The LA Galaxy looked in-state for their latest acquisition, signing defender Emrah Klimenta from USL side Sacramento Republic FC on Tuesday.
It’s the first career MLS opportunity for the Montenegro international, who’s played for Republic FC since their inaugural 2014 season and is Sacramento’s all-time leader in minutes, appearances and starts.
“Emrah has shown very well for himself in Sacramento and that he is deserving of this opportunity in MLS,” said LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid in a club release. “He will be a valuable and versatile defender to have in our backline. We are very excited to welcome Emrah to our club.”
Klimenta, 26, has traveled a long and winding road to this point. When he was a child, his family emigrated from their homeland during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s and eventually settled in Northern California. He earned his first contract with the Republic after trying out for the team and went on to help them win the USL PRO championship in their first season.
In four years with the club, he recorded 88 starts in 92 appearances for a total of 7,915 minutes, and helped the team to the playoffs in each year he was with the organization, earning call-ups to the Montenegrin national team in 2016.
