LA Galaxy II have signed midfielder Jose Hernandez, pending league and federation approval, the club announced today. Hernandez, 22, joins Los Dos after two seasons with Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs SLC.
“We are excited to welcome Jose to LA Galaxy II,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “Jose has a level of creativity that can make him a dynamic playmaker in our midfield. We believe that Jose has a lot to offer this organization.”
Hernandez signed his first professional contract with Real Salt Lake as a homegrown player in December 2016. In 2017, Hernandez appeared in seven games for Real Salt Lake, making one start and scoring one goal. Hernandez also represented Real Salt Lake in the 2017 MLS Homegrown Game against Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 team. Last season he was on loan to Real Monarchs SLC and appeared in 20 games, making nine starts, scoring one goal and recording one assist. In his USL career, he’s totaled 28 appearances, 14 starts, three goals and one assist.
Prior to his professional debut, Hernandez played two NCAA campaigns at UCLA, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors in 2015 and being named the 2016 Pac-12 Co-Player of the Year. In his sophomore season for the Bruins, he totaled five goals and six assists in 20 games, following 11 goals and four assists in 2015 as a freshman.
Before committing to UCLA, Hernandez played for the Real Salt Lake-Arizona Academy, where he was named U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-18 West Conference Player of the Year after scoring 25 goals in the 2014-15 season.
Hernandez and LA Galaxy II will kick off the 2019 USL Regular Season on Saturday, March 9 against Colorado Springs Switchbacks at Dignity Health Sports Park Track & Field Stadium.
Transaction: LA Galaxy II midfielder Jose Hernandez
Name: Jose Hernandez
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 126 lbs.
Born: April 12, 1996
Age: 22
Last Club: Real Salt Lake
Birthplace: Ixtapan De La Sal, Mexico
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Nationality: Mexico
