LA Galaxy acquire rights to Miguel Aguilar, exercise contract options on 11 players

The off-season has begun in LA.

This morning the Galaxy made a flurry of announcements, starting with the news that LA have acquired the rights to 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Aguilar from D.C. United in exchange for the Galaxy’s 2018 4th round SuperDraft selection. LA also receive United’s 2019 4th round pick in the deal.

The Mexico-born midfielder was taken by D.C. United with the 17^th overall selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft before making his professional debut later that year. In his rookie season with United, Aguilar made 17 appearances with four starts during the MLS Regular Season in addition to starting in all four 2015-16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League group matches. His first goal for D.C. came as the game winner in the team’s 1-0 win over Árabe Unido in Aug. 2015 during the CONCACAF Champions League. He made six MLS appearances for D.C. in 2016 before being loaned to their USL affiliate Richmond Kickers, where went on to make 14 starts.

Prior to his time as a professional, Aguilar was a standout at University of San Francisco alongside current Galaxy defender Dave Romney from 2011-2014. During his time with the Dons, Aguilar tallied 15 goals and nine assists while earning honors on the All-West Coast Conference First Team (2014), West Coast Conference All-Academic Team (2014, 2013, 2012), All-West Coast Conference Second Team (2013, 2012, 2011) and 2011 West Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.

Additionally, the LA Galaxy have exercised contract options on 11 players for the 2017 MLS season: goalkeeper Clement Diop, defenders Ashley Cole, Daniel Steres and Dave Romney, midfielders Rafael Garcia, Baggio Husidic and Raul Mendiola, and strikers Bradford Jamieson IV, Jose Villarreal, Ariel Lassiter and Jack McBean.