LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, March 21, 2023) – The LA Galaxy today announced that the club has acquired Argentine youth international defender Julián Aude from Argentine Primera División side Club Atlético Lanús. Aude, who will occupy an MLS U22 Initiative roster spot, will be signed to a five-year contract through the end of the 2027 MLS season and will be added to the club’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). To become roster compliant, midfielder Efraín Álvarez will be shifted from an MLS U22 Initiative roster spot to a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) roster spot.
Aude, 19, joins the Galaxy after tallying one goal and one assist in 54 career appearances (34 starts) across all competitions for Lanús (2020-23). The Lanús, Argentina, native played in two league matches (1 start) for his hometown club in the 2023 league campaign, while he recorded one goal and one assist in 20 appearances (14 starts) across all competitions (Copa Argentina, Copa Sudamericana, Copa de la Liga, Primera División) for Lanús in 2022.
“We are pleased to announce Julián as the newest member of the club,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney. “Julián is a very talented and highly competitive young player with a great education from his previous club Lanús and with the Argentine Youth National Teams. We look forward to integrating him into the team and continuing his development.”
In 2021, Aude went on to make 10 appearances (4 starts) for Lanús in the Primera División after making his debut in league play as a 17-year-old against Club Atlético Tucumán on July 16, 2021. The defender logged 1,314 minutes in 25 matches played (14 starts) across all competitions (Copa Sudamericana, Copa de la Liga, Primera División) in 2021 for Lanús. In his first season as a professional, Aude logged 461 minutes of action in seven appearances (5 starts) across all competitions (Copa Sudamericana, Copa Diego Armando Maradona, Copa Argentina) for Lanús in 2020.
“Julián is one of the best young left backs in South America and he’s a player that our scouting department has been following for quite some time,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski. “We’re excited for Julián to join the Galaxy and for him to begin contributing to our group.”
At the international level, Aude was a key member of the Argentine side that won the 2019 South American U-17 Championship, logging one assist in six matches played (6 starts) during the competition. Additionally, Aude made three starts for Argentina at the 2023 U-20 South American Championship in Colombia.
Transaction: LA Galaxy acquire Julián Aude from Club Atlético Lanús and sign the defender to a five-year contract through the end of the 2027 MLS season on March 21, 2023.
Julián Aude
Position: Defender
Height: 6-0
Weight: 150
Date Of Birth: March 24, 2003
Age: 19
Birthplace: Lanús, Argentina
Last Club: Club Atlético Lanús (Argentina)
Citizenship: Argentina
Acquired: Acquired from Club Atlético Lanús and signed to a five-year contract through the end of the 2027 MLS season on March 21, 2023.
