Soccer
Much-loved former Chivas star set to return from MLS
After an underwhelming 2024 Chivas Guadalajara are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to bring Mexican international Alan Pulido back to the team.
With just one week to go until the opening slate of 2025 Liga MX fixtures, Chivas Guadalajara are close to agreeing a major offensive signing.
Former star Alan Pulido is reportedly set to return to Akron Stadium, where he spent a successful stint from 2016 to 2019. Pulido has been with MLS side Sporting Kansas City since 2020 but the club are now trying to move on from his designated player contract as head coach Peter Vermes looks to refresh the squad.
The Mexican international will hope to add some offensive heft to a Chivas team that has struggled in front of goal in recent seasons. Recurring injuries to Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández have combined with underperformance from young forwards Armando González and Teun Wilke.
Chivas coach Óscar Garcia Junyent was eager to strengthen the forward line and appears to have had his wish granted. The club had been interested in Brandon Vázquez of Monterrey but the USMNT striker has since put pen to paper on a deal to return to MLS with Austin FC.
What is Alan Pulido’s salary?
Pulido has made clear that he is eager to return to Chivas after spending five seasons in the United States with KC. He was a designated player throughout his time in MLS and was the highest-paid player at Sporting during 2024.
The 33-year-old earned an annual salary of $3.6 million, just shy of $70,000 per week. He signed a new three-year extension in 2023 off the back of a good run of form but will not see out that deal. He spoke of his desire to win a title with Sporting but the team came up short in the postseason.
In his first spell with Chivas, Pulido was named Liga MX MVP during the championship-winning Clausura 2017 campaign and helped the team to the CONCACAF Champions League in 2018.
Claro Sports reports that Pulido has already completed a medical at Medyarthros Hospital in Guadalajara, where he went discreetly accompanied by his agent Manfredi Caleca.
Despite his history of knee injuries, the club remains confident that Pulido can recapture his best form in Guadalajara. He slipped down the pecking order with Sporting KC in 2024 but has been a key player during his time in MLS. He scored 14 goals in 28 league games in 2023 and was crowned MLS Comeback Player of the Year after recovering from serious knee injury.