LA Galaxy Secure Tranfer of Robbie Keane

by Josie Becker on Aug 15, 2011 10:34 AM PDT

POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 16: Robbie Keane of Tottenham during the 2011 Vodacom Challenge match between Kaizer Chiefs and Tottenham Hotspur at Peter Mokaba Stadium on July 16, 2011 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivmabu/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The LA Galaxy announced this morning that they have come to terms with Irish International Robbie Keane, who comes on a transfer from Tottenham Hotspur. He will officially be added once his P-1 Visa goes through. Keane scored a total of 91 goals for Spurs, but was loaned out in 2010 and 2011 to Celtic and West Ham respectively.

The Galaxy admitted in their email that will have to make a change to the roster prior to adding Keane due to having 3 Designated Players already. Juan Pablo Angel has been rumored to Philadelphia, Chivas USA, and the moon. I don't think he'll be taking that contract to play on the moon, but Chivas are allegedly the front runners.

“I have already discussed football with Bruce Arena and I know exactly what he wants from me,” Keane added. “I am fit, fresh and ready to go. I've come here to score goals and help this team achieve their goals. This is a massive opportunity for me in my career. I aim to grab it with both hands and hopefully help give the Galaxy fans what they want.”

MLS clubs don't release salary information, but reports have been in the six million pounds range. Bruce Arena hasn't shied for expressing his disappointment with the play of Juan Pablo Angel, but I don't think anyone saw a move of this proportion happening.

So what do you think of the move? Will a new striker solve the Galaxy scoring woes? We should also send our thanks to Beckham, who talked Keane into moving during the offseason. Also, also, this is to my memory the first time an MLS club has payed a transfer fee to bring over an EPL player. Precedent has been set!

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And the transfer fee

is 3 million pounds. WOW. When do you think Keane gets on the pitch for us?

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by Patrick_the_Ruminator on Aug 15, 2011 10:56 AM PDT reply actions

Tomorrow is likely too soon, although we don’t know when he landed in LA. My guess it he might be on the bench tomorrow, just to be announced, but he’s a sure start on Saturday.

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by Josie Becker on Aug 15, 2011 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Doesn’t Keane still need to get his Visa? And I heard that usually takes 2 weeks…
Please tell me I’m wrong. I’d love to see him on the pitch for Saturday’s game against San Jose.

by xTPTBx on Aug 15, 2011 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions

thing is we don’t know when he put in for it. The responsible answer is “we don’t know” but that answer is boring

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by Josie Becker on Aug 15, 2011 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, you’re right. But we only started hearing the Keane rumors this past weekend. So the worst case is that he only applied today. Add two weeks to that, and if we’re lucky, he’ll play against NYRB. If he misses that, then we probably won’t see him until the CCL game against Morelia because he’ll most likely play for his national team on September 2nd and 6th for Euro Qualifiers.
Maybe the Galaxy can pull some strings to somehow get him to play on Saturday. I doubt it though.

by xTPTBx on Aug 15, 2011 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Good move

Keane is an upgrade over JPA (I hope). Any chance he might be available for Tuesday or this weekend at the latest. I guess getting rid of JPA might take a few days.

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by BetterDeadThanRed on Aug 15, 2011 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

that’s the rub (that I keep forgetting) JPA might already well be dealt, but it stands that Keane can’t be added to the roster til JPA is officially off it.

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by Josie Becker on Aug 15, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I don't think it will take Bruce that long to take him to the Carson back ally and shoot him.

I don’t think MLS would be willing to pay for a vet, but that would be the humane thing to do.

by Cool Dudes on Aug 15, 2011 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

I do love black humour

and I bet JPA makes excellent glue.

Now we’re both going to hell!

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by Josie Becker on Aug 16, 2011 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions

I thought Angel might be on the way out...

I hope this is a sign of things to come.

The more EPL players we can get into the MLS like this, the more Spanish Premiera, Bundesliga, etc. will follow suit.

Good move for the Galaxy, and good move for the MLS.

"Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid"
-Albert Einstein

by UndaDawg on Aug 15, 2011 11:40 AM PDT reply actions

I don’t want to oversell, the Galaxy were competing against teams in the Championship for Keane. What hopefully means, is we’re further away from the days where Bundesliga 2 and the Championship were considered fine places for MLS stars to go.

(RIP Edson Buddle)

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by Josie Becker on Aug 15, 2011 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions