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Four star rated prospect Adonis Amaya has announced via twitter that he's switched from the Chivas USA academy program to the LA Galaxy academy. Top Drawer Soccer has the defender rated sixth in Southern California and sixth at his position. He comes in on the IMG Academy top 150 at twenty-fourth.
Excited and looking forward to playing with my new teammates next season and working with the staff at the La Galaxy academy.
— #33 (@AmayaAdonis) July 15, 2013
He's the second Chivas academy player to announce he's switching to the LA Galaxy Academy. Axel Mendez, a midfielder, is also rated at four stars by Top Drawer Soccer. He's ranked thirty third in Southern California. Both Amaya and Mendez were involved with Chivas' Development Academy Playoff run.
@LAGConfidential Axel Mendez (@AxelAlexis35) tweeted he was switching. I believe most of u16 team is - not sure which have said so publicly
— J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) July 15, 2013
So there may be more drain for the Chivas academy over to the Galaxy side, most likely due to Mike Munoz signing on to work with the Galaxy academy. This consolidation of talent into the Galaxy academy (U-18's were stronger with LA but Chivas had the better U-16 squad) is a significant shift in Los Angeles youth soccer development.
This is also connected to the LA Galaxy putting together an Under-23 team. LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano reported the development awhile back, and the team appears set to play tomorrow. It also appears they didn't get organized in time to join the SoCal Premier U-23 league which Chivas USA has a team in. Mike Munoz was listed as an assistant coach to the Chivas U-23s before he switched sides.
Also first U-23 game tomorrow with the La galaxy along side my bros @BJ08145563 @JeffreyJohnQ
— #33 (@AmayaAdonis) July 15, 2013
Bradford Jamieson (@BJ08145563) is another former Chivas USA prospect, a five star rated forward. Jeffery Quezada (@JefferyJohnQ) is a former Chivas prospect a well. I'm not sure which league the U-23s will be playing in, more news on that as it comes.
The U-23 team will give players who have aged out of the U-18s keep active with the academy during the summer. Players like Gyasi Zardes, who go off to college after the academy, can retain a connection to the club and get more experience leading up to the MLS draft.