Efraín Álvarez transferred to Club Tijuana
The Galaxy homegrown leaves after four and a half seasons with the club
Midfielder Efraín Álvarez has officially joined Club Tijuna for a reported $2.2 million dollars after five seasons with the LA Galaxy. Once touted as the best talent in MLS by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he leaves the Galaxy with eight goals and 16 assists in 102 games played for the Galaxy.
“We want to thank Efraín for his commitment to the LA Galaxy for the past seven plus years”, said LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney via press release. “Efrain has left a special impact on the club progressing through the academy, Galaxy II and the first team and we wish him and his family all the best in this next step of his career.”
The Galaxy will retain a sell-on percentage and free up a U22 initiative roster spot. He joins a Xolos side that is looking to climb up the table under coach Miguel Herrera.
Why he left
2023 has seen Álvarez’s playing time go down for the first time in his LA Galaxy career. Due to Douglas Cosa’s injury at the start of the season, the young midfielder became a starter and played in the club’s first three games of the season. He recorded just one appearance in league play since July and was left off the team sheet in the Galaxy’s last three games.
According to a source close to the situation, Álvarez had grown frustrated with his lack of playing time and talked to Vanney about the situation.
The Galaxy strengthened the winger position with Diego Fagundez and Micheal Barrios before the end of the secondary transfer window. Álvarez fell down the depth chart and was likely going to get little to no playing time to finish out the 2023 season.
With a reported $2.2 million dollars in return for Álvarez, this was a good deal for the Galaxy. He’s a player who didn’t look to be part of the future of the club and with an expiring contract. According to the MLSPA salary guide, he made $766,500.00 in guaranteed compensation this season.
Despite showing lots of talent during his early days with the Galaxy, he never developed into a solid MLS starter. With a change of scenery, it could be what pushes him to be a better player.