TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
LAFC have acquired Colombian center back Jesus David Murillo on loan from Deportivo Independiente Medellin, the club announced Wednesday. The deal comes with an option to make the transfer permanent.
Murillo, 26, made 18 appearances across all competitions for Independiente Medellin in 2020, scoring one goal. He made 108 total appearances with the club over three years. He has spent his pro career in his native Colombia with Independiente Medellin, Deportivo Pasto and Patriotas Bocaya.
“As a Club, we are always looking at ways of improving our roster and we believe that acquiring a player of Jesús’s caliber will do just that,” LAFC Co-President & GM John Thorrington said in a club statement. “He has fantastic physical qualities that fit how we play and will provide a commanding presence across the backline. We are excited to have him with us and expect him to make an immediate impact as we continue our playoff push.”
Murillo is the club's third active Colombian player, alongside fellow center back Eddie Segura and midfielder Eduard Atuesta.
The move could be a boost to a thin LAFC defensive unit. Tristan Blackmon and Andy Najar are currently out injured while Danilo Silva recently retired. LAFC also traded US international Walker Zimmerman to Nashville SC in the offseason and have since mainly relied on a center-back partnership of Segura and Dejan Jakovic.
Murillo joins Mark Segbers as a recent addition in defense.
