Juan Pablo Angel Officially Joins Chivas USA

“Juan Pablo is a great pick up for us because he knows how to score goals and has scored the most goals in the League (MLS) through the last five years. Outside of his experience and ability on the field, he’s a classy person and I think that another experienced classy person in our locker-room is a positive,” Chivas USA coach Robin Fraser said in a team release. “It is a win-win when you get a good player and a good person who fits into what we are trying to do.”

Angel was reportedly considering several options: a trade to the Philadelphia Union, this trade or retirement. He recently told ESPN Deportes that he wanted to stay in Los Angeles because he had just recently moved his family there.

Elsewhere in the interview, Angel admitted that he has not performed at a level up to his expectations and seems to understand the Galaxy’s decision to look for a replacement. He also says that he is healthy.

But Angel’s Galaxy career got off to a slow start when he missed the season opener with an injury and didn’t start until the third game. Although he scored in that first start, he has scored just three times all season, a considerable drop-off for a player who entered this season averaging about .6 goals per 90 minutes played.

The 31-year-old was playing in the English Premier League as recently as last year, but he has been on the outs with Tottenham for awhile. Last year, he played just 12 games across all competitions with Tottenham, starting only five times. He made nine other EPL appearances with West Ham United, where he scored his only two goals of the season. He is just a year removed from a season in which he scored six times in 20 EPL appearances with Spurs, a year which saw him score 28 goals in 52 games for club and country.

Make sure to check out LAG Confidential for more analysis on the Keane signing.

The major hang up to this deal happening has long Angel’s status. The Galaxy needed to make Keane a Designated Player and with Angel on the roster, there was no room for the Irish international. By convincing Angel to accept what amounts to a switch in locker rooms, there does not seem to be anything standing in the way of Keane joining the Galaxy.

Now, it appears Angel may not have been interested in joining the Union, after all, as the recent reports suggest he was choosing between joining Chivas USA and retiring.

As it was on Friday when news of the deal first broke, the Galaxy are still trying to make room for Keane by trading Angel. The Union have emerged as the most likely landing spot for the 35-year-old striker, at least that’s how it looks according to a series of Tweets from fellow Colombian Faryd Mondragon.

The Galaxy have been bitterly disappointed with Angel’s performance so far this season (just three goals in 22 games) and are understandably looking for an upgrade. LAG Confidential thinks Keane would be a significant upgrade:

That the Galaxy would be looking to make such a swap of high-priced forwards is not entirely surprising. Angel has been a disappointment this season, scoring just three goals and being limited to 17 starts. At 35 years old, it appears age is finally catching up to the former Aston Villa star.

Keane is four years younger and has a better recent history. Last year he was limited to just 15 games in all club and international competitions, but still managed seven goals. As recently as 2009-10, he scored 28 goals in 43 competitive matches.