LAFC are looking to go into the new year with one clear goal, getting better. While the rest of us were enjoying the holidays, the offseason, and just trying to catch our breathes ahead of the season ahead, the black & gold were already hard at work at improving the squad after their disappointing MLS Cup Finals loss to end the 2023 campaign. A late Christmas gift for the 3252, as the club announced a few days ago the signing of soccer legend and goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris. The contract runs through 2024, with options for both 2025 and 2026. Lloris will occupy an international roster slot upon the receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
World-class Pedigree 🏆
Hugo Lloris | #LAFC pic.twitter.com/2pGdGfe2zC
— LAFC (@LAFC) December 31, 2023
“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner. We are incredibly excited that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his illustrious career,” said LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington in a statement. “He brings unprecedented leadership experience at the highest levels of football, which we know will greatly benefit our Club in our pursuit of more trophies. I would like to thank Tottenham for their collaboration, and I join all of Los Angeles in extending a warm welcome to Hugo, his wife Maine and their three children to LAFC.”
Lloris, 37, joins LAFC after a sparkling 19-year career at the top levels of European football, starring for the past 11 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League after previously playing for OGC Nice and Olympique Lyonnais in French Ligue 1, where he was named Goalkeeper Of The Year three times (2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12). The Nice, France native is considered one of the greatest French players of all time, appearing in a record 145 matches for his country and registering 68 international shutouts. Lloris helped lead France to two consecutive World Cup finals, winning the 2018 World Cup and a second-place finish in the 2022 World Cup. He holds the all-time record for most appearances by a goalkeeper in FIFA World Cup history (20 matches) after appearing in four World Cups. Lloris also captained France to a runner-up finish in the 2016 UEFA Euros and played in the 2012 and 2020 editions of the tournament.
Lloris joined Tottenham on Aug. 31, 2012 and enjoyed a stellar career in North London, appearing in 447 matches and 151 clean sheets across all competitions. He played in 361 English Premier League games, registering 128 shutouts. A teammate of former LAFC forward Gareth Bale at Tottenham, Lloris helped lead Spurs to a runner-up finish in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final.
For those who may have missed it and might be wondering about the other two, really solid, goalkeepers LAFC have, it has been reported by Mr. Scoops himself, Tom Bogert of The Athletic, that free agent goalkeeper John McCarthy has decided to stay in Los Angeles, signing for the rivals, LA Galaxy.
Sources: LA Galaxy has signed GK John McCarthy. Was a free agent.
McCarthy, 31, was 2022 MLS Cup MVP with heroics off the bench for LAFC. Made 41 apps with LAFC, also featured for Philadelphia and Miami in MLS. pic.twitter.com/We3c04X9EM
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) December 29, 2023
It is still unknown if Max Crepeau will return to the black & gold, which makes the signing of Lloris so important as the team could go from two great options, to having both leave this offseason. While Lloris may be a veteran of the sport, he brings experience and championship pedigree that the club covet so much. Now, the team shift focus on adding talent to other positions, many of which hope involve an attacker.
Thoughts on the signing of Hugo Lloris? Leave a comment below!