TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
The LA Galaxy have brought US youth international defender Mauricio Cuevas back to the club, announcing Wednesday theyâve signed the 20-year-old from Belgian side Club Brugge.
Cuevas, 20, is under contract through the end of the 2025 MLS season with two club option years through 2027.
He previously departed for Europe in January 2022 after coming through LAâs academy. The versatile fullback had tallied four goals and five assists in 21 games for LA Galaxy II, their reserve side that now competes in MLS NEXT Pro.
While in Belgium, Cuevas recorded two assists across 23 games for Club NXT, Club Bruggeâs development squad that competes in the countryâs second division.
"We are pleased to welcome Mauricio back to the LA Galaxy family," head coach and sporting director Greg Vanney said in a statement. "We have always appreciated Mauricioâs talent and his passion for the club. Heâs a versatile fullback that will contribute to the team while continuing to develop as a player."
Cuevas, formally signed before the leagueâs Primary Transfer Window closed Monday night, has been a staple of the USA U-20 squad thatâs heading to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina later this month. Heâs often captained head coach Mikey Varasâ team, including at last summerâs Concacaf U-20 Championship
For the Galaxy, Cuevas could feature at either outside back spot as LA build towards the future. Heâs their third fullback addition this transfer window after the Western Conference club previously acquired former Brazil youth international Lucas Calegari and Argentine youth international JuliĂĄn Aude â two U22 Initiative players. Calegari is on loan from Fluminese through the 2023 MLS season with a purchase option, while Aude arrived from LanĂșs on a permanent transfer.
Cuevas joins US youth international teammate Jalen Neal at the Galaxy. The 19-year-old homegrown center back has emerged as a first-choice option early into the 2023 MLS season.
With the Primary Transfer Window over, LA now face transfer sanctions where they canât sign players from abroad during the summer window. Theyâll still be able to add domestic-based players during the Secondary Transfer Window (July 5 to Aug. 2) since an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) isnât arriving from overseas.
LA are off to a slow start in 2023, sitting second-from-bottom in the West (1W-4L-3D record) through Matchday 9 as supporter-led protests have created tension around the club.
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