LA Galaxy Acquire Midfielder Riqui Puig From FC Barcelona

Spanish midfielder signed to a three-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season

The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has acquired Spanish midfielderRiqui Puig using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) via transfer from La Liga side FC Barcelona. Puig will be signed to a three-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa.

“We are pleased to welcome Riqui to the LA Galaxy,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “Riqui is a very technical and well-educated player with incredible experiences for his age. He will fit seamlessly into our group and style of play.”

Puig, 22, tallied two goals and three assists in 57 appearances (15 starts) across all competitions with FC Barcelona (2018-22). Puig notched one goal in 15 games played (2 starts) for Barcelona during the 2021-22 La Liga campaign. 

“Riqui is a very talented player with a unique profile that brings something different to our squad,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski.

In his debut for Barcelona, the Matadepera, Spain, native tallied an assist off the bench in a 4-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey on Dec. 5, 2018. Before making his debut for the first team, Puig tallied two goals and 10 assists in 56 appearances for Barcelona B. During his time at Barcelona, Puig won the 2018-19 La Liga title and the 2020-21 Copa del Rey. Additionally, Puig helped Barcelona claim the 2017-18 UEFA Youth League title, with the midfielder tallying three goals and three assists in 10 games played (10 starts) in the competition. 

Transaction: LA Galaxy acquire Riqui Puig from Spanish La Liga side FC Barcelona and sign the midfielder to a three-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2025 MLS regular season on Aug. 4, 2022.

Riqui Puig
Pronunciation: rick-EE poojsh
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Weight: 150
Date Of Birth: Aug. 13, 1999
Age: 22
Birthplace: Matadepera, Spain
Last Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Citizenship: Spain
Acquired: Acquired via transfer from La Liga side FC Barcelona on Aug. 4, 2022.

The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has transferred midfielder Rayan Raveloson to Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre.

“We are thankful and appreciative of Rayan’s contributions to the LA Galaxy,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “We wish him the best as he returns back to Ligue 1 for the next phase of his career.”

Raveloson, 25, recorded eight goals and five assists in 48 career games played (45 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy after signing with the club from ES Troyes AC on May 20, 2021. In 22 appearances (21 starts) during the 2022 MLS Regular Season, Raveloson tallied three goals and four assists.

“This transfer provides flexibility on our roster as we enter the final stretch of the season,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski. “We are appreciative of Rayan’s time at the club and we wish him all the best in France.”

In his first season with the club in 2021, Raveloson notched five goals and one assist in 22 games played (22 starts) for LA. At the international level, the Antananarivo, Madagascar, native has tallied one goal in 18 games played (14 starts) for his country.

Transaction: LA Galaxy transfer Rayan Raveloson to Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre on Aug. 4, 2022

Greg Vanney and forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández spoke during a Leagues Cup Showcase

Playing in the Leagues Cup Showcase, the LA Galaxy square off against Liga MX side Club Deportivo Guadalajara in the first-ever soccer game at SoFi Stadium at 5:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Aug. 3 (ESPN, Univision). Wednesday’s match marks the fourth all-time meeting between the LA Galaxy and Chivas, with the series tied 1-1-1. In the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, LA and Chivas played to a scoreless draw in regulation, before the Galaxy defeated Guadalajara 5-4 on penalties in front of 27,103 fans at Soldier Field in a friendly on July 6, 1997. In the second meeting between the two teams, the Galaxy earned a 3-1 win over Chivas before 14,106 fans at Rose Bowl Stadium. The last time the Galaxy and Chivas faced off, LA fell 2-1 to Guadalajara before 37,337 fans at LA Memorial Coliseum in SuperLiga Group Stage play on July 28, 2007.

LA Galaxy fall 1-0 on the road to FC Dallas

Playing their 10th match on the road during the 2022 MLS Regular Season, the LA Galaxy fell 1-0 to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.  

Goal-Scoring Plays
DAL – Franco Jara (Marco Farfan), 8th minute: Marco Farfan’s pass down the left side of the penalty area found Franco Jara, whose first-timed shot from a tight angle was finished at the near post. 

Postgame Notes

• Following the loss to Dallas, the LA Galaxy (9-10-3, 30 points) fell to eighth place in the Western Conference standings, one point behind the seventh place Portland Timbers (7-6-10, 31 points).

• Saturday’s match marked the 88th all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, with LA leading the series 41-35-13. Against Dallas, LA holds a 35-31-13 record in league play, a 2-1-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

• In two matches played against Dallas this season, the Galaxy held an 0-2-0 record.

• In 11 matches played on the road across all competitions, LA holds a record of 4-5-2.

• In six matches league matches played during the month of July, the Galaxy held a record of 2-4-0.

• LA held a 70.6% possession advantage in the second half against Dallas.

• In four penalty attempts during the 2022 campaign, the Galaxy have converted two goals.

• In his 97th career MLS appearance, Víctor Vázquez logged 27 minutes off the bench.

• Julián Araujo started and played 76 minutes in his 94th career appearance (84 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.

• Mark Delgado finished the match with a team-high 76 passes completed (95 percent passing accuracy).

Greg Vanney and midfielder Douglas Costa speak ahead of the road match against FC Dallas

Saturday’s match marks the 88th all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, with LA leading the series 41-34-13. Against Dallas, LA holds a 35-30-13 record in league play, a 2-1-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Greg speaks on Gastón Brugman integrating with the team and looking forward to the game on the road in Dallas

Douglas Costa on returning to form after injury and how Gastón Brugman can contribute to the Galaxy down the stretch