MLS
Carlos Vela will be presented as an LAFC player next week
The Mexican forward’s future has been uncertain, but his old team have given him a home.
Los Angeles Football Club have yet to officially announce the return of Carlos Vela for the remainder of the 2024 Major League Soccer season. However, journalist Tom Bogert, along with AS USA, have been able to confirm that the Mexican forward will indeed make his return to LAFC, where he has played since 2018.
After several months of negotiations, where the future of the player has been heavily questioned, the 35-year-old accepted the club’s offer to continue his career in the black and gold shirt.
According to AS USA, the official announcement is expected next week, and Vela will also be part of the team for the 2025 season. LAFC have decided to bring him back to strengthen their attack this season and also to prepare for the potential departure of Mateusz Bogusz or Cristian Olivera in January, who have performed admirably in the league until now, coming on leaps and bounds this season.
Cherundolo coy on Vela’s return
Carlos Vela is set to begin training with the squad next week to regain match fitness, but the likelihood is that the player won’t be ready to play until October. LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo was asked about Vela’s return following the 4-2 loss to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday.
Cherundolo was keen to play down the arrival, simply saying that “Los Angeles FC have not made anything official yet, so I have nothing to comment on that” when asked about the return of the star forward.
According to AS USA, Vela could make his season debut on October 2 against St. Louis City; if not, he could play on October 5 against Sporting KC. In 2023, Vela played 49 times for LAFC as they reached the MLS Playoffs, ultimately losing to Columbus Crew in the final: he scored 14 goals and got 11 assists in those games for the Black & Yellow.
Despite being 35, Vela’s experience in unparalleled in MLS: he has featured 188 times in total since his move from LaLiga side Real Sociedad in 2018, scoring 93 goals and getting 54 assists across those games. At the time of writing, LAFC sit second in the Western Conference, on 48 points after 27 games; they are 8 points behind city rivals LA Galaxy.