LA Galaxy officially unveil Chicharito after reported $9.4M transfer
The LA Galaxy have their man.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez officially completed his move to Major League Soccer on Tuesday. He'll join the Galaxy from Sevilla for a reported transfer fee of €8.5 million ($9.4 million), according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl.
The Galaxy signed Hernandez, 31, to a three-year contract that could make him the highest-paid player in MLS, according to Wahl.
Prior to the announcement, Hernandez told the Los Angeles Times' Dylan Hernandez it was "the right time" to leave Europe.
"I'm going to be playing," Hernandez said. "That's what I want in my life. People are going to say it was because I couldn't make it (in Europe), but sometimes in football, there are things that are not in your hands.
"The last two years, the managers decided on giving confidence to other players rather than me. And now, the LA Galaxy, the manager of the club, and the league are telling me, 'Look, Javier, we want to give you all the trust, all the confidence to help us,' and that's why I'm taking this opportunity."
Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese moved quickly to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who left the club after scoring 53 goals in 58 games.
An old-fashioned No. 9 with a knack for being in the right place at the right time, Hernandez leads the Mexican national team with a record 52 goals in 109 international appearances.
He enjoyed his greatest spell at Manchester United, where he banged home 59 goals from 2010-14. Hernandez also took turns at Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, and West Ham before arriving at Sevilla in September.
Opportunities dried up quickly in Spain. Hernandez made just four starts in La Liga and nine appearances overall in the top flight.
Hernandez has obvious appeal in the Los Angeles area. The 31-year-old will join a growing contingent of Mexican internationals in Southern California, including new teammate Jonathan dos Santos and Los Angeles FC striker Carlos Vela.
"The Mexicans will be excited," Vela said last week when asked about the possibility of Hernandez joining the Galaxy, according to MLSsoccer.com's Scott French.
The Galaxy begin the 2020 season March 7 at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps.