MLS

The challenges ahead for Marco Reus with LA Galaxy

After weeks of speculation, the former Borussia Dortmund player joins the MLS side on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

ANDY RAINEFE

It’s now official! After weeks of speculation, rumours and reports linking Marco Reus with the Los Angeles Galaxy, the German midfielder has finally signed a deal with the club with the Galaxy officially confirming the acquisition on Thursday.

At the age of 35, the German player becomes the latest veteran international star to move to MLS in the past few years, a list that includes the likes of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez and Los Angeles FC’s Olivier Giroud.

Reus broke into German football playing for lowly Rot Weiss Ahlen (2007-09) before moving to Borussia Monchengladbach (2009-12) before joining his hometown club, Borussia Dortmund, in 2012. He remained with Dortmund through this spring, making 294 appearances and scoring 120 goals and earned ‘icon status’ with the club’s die-hard supporters.

He helped Dortmund win two DFB-Pokals (German Cup) and bagged three German Supercup wins in 2013, 2014 and 2019 but a domestic Bundesliga medal eluded the player. In his time with the ‘Mannschaft’, he played in 48 games for the German national team but missed the 2014 World Cup win through injury.

Marco Reus reacts prior to the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and SV Darmstadt 98 FRIEDEMANN VOGELEFE

‘World class’

Upon the confirmation of Reus’ signing, LA Galaxy General Manager Will Kuntz claimed: “Marco Reus is a world-class player who has excelled at the highest level of the sport, including playing in two Champions League Finals for Borussia Dortmund and in the FIFA World Cup with the German National Team. For Marco, a two-time Bundesliga Footballer of the Year, to join the Galaxy after playing his entire career in Germany is a testament to the project we are continuing to build at the club. We look forward to Marco’s contributions to the LA Galaxy as we enter the critical final stretch of the 2024 MLS season and beyond.

The Carson based side signed free-agent Reus using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) to a two-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2026 MLS season and the player will use one of the club’s international roster slots.

Challenges ahead with the Galaxy

After a disappointing 2023 season overshadowed by internal turmoil and fan protests, the new 2024 campaign sees the Galaxy sitting in first place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of local rivals LAFC. The team crashed out of the Leagues Cup last week, losing 3-1 to the Seattle Sounders in a round-of-32 match and can now turn full attention to their domestic campaign with the Supporters Shield and ultimately 2024 MLS Cup now being the club’s priorities.

Upon the conclusion of the current Leagues Cup campaign, Greg Vanney’s side return to MLS regular-season action with a home match against Atlanta United on 24 August and it’s possible that Reus could make his MLS debut in the clash against the ‘Five Stripes’.

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