Carlos Vela Headed To LAFC
Carlos Vela will leave Real Sociedad to join MLS expansion franchise Los Angeles Football Club in 2018.
beIN SPORTS USA
UPDATE:
Carlos Vela has confirmed on Twitter that he will join LAFC in 2018.
_________________________________________________________
UPDATE:
While not mentioning a specific team, Real Sociedad have confirmed that Carlos Vela is leaving the club to join Major League Soccer. Vela will remain in LaLiga until the January transfer window. LAFC's inaugural season will kick off in March of 2018.
"Real Sociedad and Major League Soccer (MLS) have reached an agreement in principle to transfer Carlos Vela to a team in the American league during the winter market. Carlos Vela will continue [with Real Sociedad] until January of 2018, when he leaves to MLS."
Vela himself posted a message of gratitude to the club and its fans.
__________________________________________________________
LA Times reporter Kevin Baxter is reporting that 2018 MLS expansion team Los Angeles FC has completed a deal to make Real Sociedad winger Carlos Vela the club's first Designated Player.
LAFC made headlines with the recent appointment of former US national team boss Bob Bradley as the franchise's first head coach.
Earlier in the year, prior to his return to the Premier League with West Ham, there were reports that LAFC were in pursuit of Vela's El Tri teammate Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, but balked at his rumored $10m salary demands.
In June, it was believed that LAFC had finalized a deal with PSV Eindhoven and Mexican international Andres Guardado to join the team, but the 30 year old has since moved on to Real Betis.
Vela would become the second notable Mexican international to swap LaLiga for Major League Soccer this summer, following Villarreal's Jonathan Dos Santos joining his brother Giovani at the LA Galaxy last month.