TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Transfer
The LA Galaxy have signed center back Giancarlo Gonzalez from Serie A side Bologna, the club announced Thursday. The club sent $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money to Orlando City SC to move up to the No. 2 spot in the allocation order from No. 11. They then sent a first-round 2020 SuperDraft pick to Toronto FC to move from second to first.
Gonzalez, 31, had been with Bologna since 2017, making 35 appearances, including 10 this season. He joined Bologna from Palermo, where made 85 appearances after joining in the summer of 2014 on the back of an impressive World Cup campaign with Costa Rica.
“Giancarlo is a very experienced and talented central defender that we believe will strengthen our backline,” Galaxy GM Dennis te Kloese said in a club statement. “He is familiar with MLS and he has played at the highest levels across the world. We are excited to add him to our roster and look forward to integrating him into our team.”
Gonzalez is expected to partner Diego Polenta, who joined this offseason to solidify the Galaxy defense under new head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, in the center of LA's defense.
The Galaxy had to move up the Allocation Order to acquire the defender because Gonzalez spent the first half of 2014 with Columbus Crew SC, making 17 appearances for the club. He was sold for more than $500,000, meaning he was placed in the Allocation List for if he would re-enter MLS in the future. Select U.S. Men’s National Team players and select elite U.S. Youth National Team players are also on the Allocation List, along with players transferred for $500,000 or more.
LA could have selected Gonzalez with the No. 11 spot in the Allocation Order, but only if all the clubs ahead of them passed on Gonzalez.
The Galaxy were forced to make a pair of trades -- first with Orlando to jump from No. 11 to No. 2 then with TFC to swap top spots -- because TFC ostensibly preferred to stay atop the list. After the Galaxy signed Gonzalez, they head to the bottom of the order, returning Toronto to No. 1. Players on the Allocation List include Tim Ream, Matt Miazga, Cyle Larin and more.
