LA Galaxy are in the process of signing Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig from Barcelona, multiple sources say Athleticismalthough the deal is pending some maneuvering regarding Major League Soccer’s salary cap.
Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson flew to France to undergo a medical with Ligue 1 side Auxerre on Wednesday. A deal is in place to sell Raveloson to the France national team, and once that deal is done, it would pave the way for Puig to sign with the Galaxy.
According to a source, the terms have been agreed for Puig’s free transfer to Los Angeles. The MLS secondary transfer window closes on Thursday, so deals should be finalized before the midnight central time deadline.
Puig, who turns 23 next week, was brought up at Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy and played for Barcelona B from 2018-2020. He was promoted to the first team in 2020 and was seen as a fixture key to the future at Barca but has fallen out of favor despite playing for the Spanish giants more than 60 times in the past three seasons.
Raveloson, a Malagasy international, joined the Galaxy in 2021 after helping French side Troyes secure promotion from Ligue 2. He made 44 appearances for LA, scoring eight goals and registering five assists during that spell.
Selling Raveloson will free up significant cap space for the Galaxy – he was earning £642,174 ($780,000) in base salary this year, according to the MLS Players Association.
The Galaxy narrowly missed the play-offs last season and added former Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa as a Designated Player last offseason to join Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in attack.
LA currently sits ninth in the Western Conference standings, two points out of a play-off berth with one game less.
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In Riqui Puig, Barcelona have a star among another solid La Masia class
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