HOW ACQUIRED: Traded by Chivas USA on May 8, 2014
Chivas USA signed former English Premier League striker Luke Moore this off-season from Turkey’s Super League side Sanica Boru Elazığspor. A product of the Aston Villa F.C. youth academy, the 28-year-old Englishman played alongside older brother and former Queens Park Rangers forward, Stefan. The younger Moore spent the bulk of his young professional career with Villa in the EPL and also enjoyed stays as a member of West Bromwich Albion and Swansea City A.F.C.
Moore made his pro debut with the Villans in 2005 in grand fashion, as the forward tallied his first career goal in a 2-0 win over Middleborough. Since then, the Birmingham native went on to record 27 goals while competing in England’s top division.
In 2011, Moore took his talents to Wales to join Swansea City, and immediately became an instrumental part of the club by guiding it to a third-place finish and qualification to the playoffs. The Swans went on to beat Reading 4-2 in the finals at Wembley Stadium to earn the team a heralded promotion to the EPL, becoming the first Welsh club in 20 years to join the Premier League.
Two years later, Moore and the Swans’ celebrated run continued, as they won their first major English trophy by defeating Bradford City, 5-0, for the Football League Cup and with it, a qualification to the 2013-14 UEFA Europa League tournament. After his memorable run with Swansea, Moore served a brief stint in Turkey prior to making the jump to MLS with Chivas USA.
