LAFC announced the return of veteran forward Carlos Vela, signing him as a free agent through the 2024 Major League Soccer season with an additional option for 2025.
“Carlos has played such an instrumental role in the success we have enjoyed at LAFC both on and off the field,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said. “He means so much to our club, our fans and our city. It was important to everyone involved to have him return to LAFC, and we are thrilled that he will be back in Black & Gold.”
Vela initially stepped away from the Los Angeles-based club after the conclusion of the 2023 season when his contract expired.
Carlos Vela is Black & Gold.
📝 #LAFC re-signs club legend Carlos Vela through the 2024 season with a club option through 2025.
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 16, 2024
Despite ongoing negotiations for an extension, the two parties failed to come to an agreement by the start of the new campaign. But now the Mexican forward is back for his seventh season with LAFC.
“Los Angeles and the LAFC fans are very important to me and my family,” Vela said. “LAFC is a special club, and I am proud of what we have built here. I am excited to return to LAFC and try to help the team achieve great things in any way that I can.”
Vela first joined the Western Conference giants in August 2017 as the team’s first ever Designated Player ahead of the debut season.
He captained LAFC through record-breaking seasons, winning the 2019 and 2022 Supporters’ Shield and 2022 MLS Cup.
He also led the team to the Concacaf Champions League final in 2020 and 2023 and the MLS Cup final in 2023, before the team fell to defeat on all three occasions.
Individually, Vela earned the 2019 MLS Golden Boot and MLS MVP award after recording a record-breaking 34 goals in 31 games. He continues to hold the league record for most goals scored by one player in a single season. He has managed 78 goals and 58 assists in 152 games for the Los Angeles team so far to cement himself as the club’s all-time leader in goals and assists.
The forward will join Dénis Bouanga, Mateusz Bogusz and Olivier Giroud in the attack as LAFC attempts to win a second MLS Cup. The team currently sits in second place on the Western Conference standings with 48 points in 27 games and a 14-7-6 (W-L-D) record.