Today, the LA Galaxy have acquired Austin FC winger Diego Fagúndez in exchange for midfielder Memo Rodriguez and $300,000 in General Allocation Money with a possible additional $600,000 in add-ons. So who is Diego Fagúndez and why did this trade happen?
Diego Fagúndez, 28, is from Uruguay and is known for his versatility on the field, often playing as a midfielder or forward. He began his professional career at an early age, joining the New England Revolution as a Homegrown Player in November 2010, at the age of 15.
During his time with the New England Revolution, Fagúndez became one of the team's key players, displaying his skills and scoring ability. He was considered one of the promising young talents in MLS and earned recognition for his performances. He represented Uruguay at the youth level and was eligible to play for both Uruguay and the United States at the senior international level.
In 2021, Fagúndez signed with Austin FC and had been a big part of Austin FC’s club history.
During the 2022 season, he scored 6 goals and 12 assists to help Austin finish 2nd in the Western Conference. The club rewarded his performance that season with a new contract extension until the end of the 2025 MLS season that elevated his base salary to $1 million a year.
Although for the 2023 season, Fagundez has has not been as great. Through 19 games this season, he has 2 goals and 1 assist. With Fagúndez becoming one of the best-paid players for Austin, this season has been disappointing.
So why trade for him? Well, the LA Galaxy need a winger. Memo Rodriguez was nice for the Galaxy, but didn't play well as a winger. The other winger Galaxy have is Tyler Boyd but he is inconsistent. Even though Fagúndez has had a disappointing season, it is not entirely his fault as the players around him may have not been playing so well too, effecting his performace. After all, Fagúndez is one of 13 players in MLS history to record at least 60 career goals and 60 career assists. Fagúndez should bring more playmaking, crosses, set-pieces, and more to the Galaxy. So this is a great low risk move as the Galaxy aren't in playoff position anyway. Excited to see what he brings to the table.
Comments