LOS ANGELES (Thursday, March 23, 2023) – LA Galaxy II today announced that the club has signed defender Elijah Amadin for the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season from the LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts.
Amadin, 23, played collegiate soccer at Concordia University (2017-21), where he tallied 16 goals and 14 assists in 71 games played (49 starts). During the 2021 campaign, the Lake Forest, Calif., native tallied five goals and six assists in 17 games played (15 starts) en-route to earning Second Team All-PacWest honors. Amadin served as a graduate assistant for Concordia during the 2022 NCAA Division II season. Notably, Amadin was one of 16 players from the LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts that were invited to an extended trial with LA Galaxy II. From there, Amadin, along with three other players, were invited to continue training on trial with Los Dos.
“Elijah was a player that we identified at our LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts and he made a great impression on our coaching staff,” said LA Galaxy II Head Coach Marcelo Sarvas. “Elijah fits in well with our roster and he's a player that likes to get involved in the attack and is very quick in transition. We look forward to him contributing to our team this season.”
Open to players between the ages of 17-25, the LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts provide the opportunity for players to showcase their talents in front of LA Galaxy staff. By expanding the club’s recruiting pool through tryouts taken place in Las Vegas, Nev., and Los Angeles, players have the opportunity to be discovered and identified for playing opportunities not only in the Galaxy organization, but in clubs and leagues around the United States and overseas. From the open tryouts, the top players identified are invited back to Los Angeles for an extended trial where all expenses are paid for by the club.
The LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts have led to the discovery of players that have gone on to play for LA Galaxy II and the LA Galaxy such as former defender Diedie Traore. Additionally, players such as Tony Lopez, Sam Strong, Nicholas Rozo, Alex Cooper, Hanif Wright, Marko Milutinovic and Wolfgang Prentice have participated in the LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts and have gone on to sign contracts with teams in leagues around the United States.
For more information on LA Galaxy II Open Tryouts, click here.
