He’s a man who needs just one name: Zlatan. And the Swedish striker is coming to America.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is coming to MLS, reportedly signs with Los Angeles Galaxy
ZLATAN TO MLS.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
The long-running open secret was reportedly made official Thursday morning, when it broke that Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be joining MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy. The news was first broken by Los Angeles Times writer Kevin Baxter.
The striker leaves after three seasons with Manchester United, where he scored 17 goals in 33 appearances.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Ibrahimovic has signed a two-year, $3 million deal on a TAM contract, and could feature in the side as soon as its March 31 derby vs. LAFC.
The signing is a needed one for the Galaxy, who have started 1-1-0 this season after a disastrous 2017 campaign that saw them finish last in the Western Conference. At 36, Ibrahimovic won’t exactly be a long-term solution, but he’s also shown he can compete at the Premier League level over the past three years. He is coming off a torn ligament he suffered in April 2017, though by all accounts he’s made a full recovery. His body heals twice as fast as a normal man, of course. He’s Zlatan. (There’s no proof of this, but it’s true.)
MLS has gained momentum over the past few seasons by shirking off the practice of signing aging stars to Designated Player contracts. Atlanta United FC, among several other clubs, has found more success signing rising young talent not quite ready to Europe and watching as they blossom as players in the league.
Then again, this is Ibrahimovic. If he’s available, you go and get him.
Galaxy still have plenty of problems, and Ibrahimovic won’t be an instant fix for this club. But having a target player of his quality, no matter his age, will make them better. And if he can get up to some level of fitness, he’s going to be a major problem for a lot of MLS defenders. This is an exciting signing for the league, and a needed one for a languishing Galaxy team needing to find relevance in a city with a new expansion side — the very dangerous looking LAFC.
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