CARSON, Calif.– The LA Galaxy announced today that the club has signed Argentinean midfielder Miguel Lopez on loan from Quilmes of Argentina’s Primera Division for the 2011 MLS season, pending the successful completion of a physical and receipt of his ITC. The 22-year-old played for Quilmes in Argentina’s Primera B Nacional (Second Division) last year, helping them earn promotion to the Primera Division in August 2010 ahead of the start of that year’s Apertura. Per club and league policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
A skillful and talented midfielder, Lopez is capable of playing wide on the left or in central midfield. A teammate of Paolo Cardozo, the Galaxy’s first round pick in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, at Quilmes, Lopez appeared in 21 games for the club last season. He began his career in the youth system of Gimnasia La Plata, joining the club at the age of 10 and staying there for seven years. In 2005, Lopez joined the first team at Deportivo Coreano in the Torneo Argentina B, spending three years there before signing with fellow Buenos Aires-based club Defensores Cambaceres in the Primera C before joining Quilmes a year later.
The Galaxy will open the 2011 MLS season on Tuesday, March 15 when they head to Seattle to take on the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in MLS First Kick 2011, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game, which will kick off at 6:30 p.m., will be shown live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as online at ESPN3.com. The Galaxy will then host the New England Revolution in their home opener at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20 at The Home Depot Center. Tickets are available for that match through the Galaxy Kickoff Pack, which includes four tickets and two Galaxy blankets, starting at $96. BUY NOW
