Report: LAFC to sign Mexican international Carlos Vela

The Mexican press on Tuesday morning was alight with speculation that forward Carlos Vela would join MLS from his current team, Spain’s Real Sociedad, and a Los Angeles-based reporter, Kevin Baxter of the Los Angeles Times, has one-upped that, saying a deal with 2018 MLS expansion team Los Angeles Football Club could come as soon as today.

Vela, 28, has been linked to MLS for several years, including being heavily wooed by the Colorado Rapids back in 2015 before rejecting their offer. He has also been tangentially linked to LAFC, although the likes of Chicharito, Andres Guardado, Keisuke Honda, and Wesley Sneijder have been more highly publicized, before all ended up going elsewhere.

Among the group of “Mexican internationals who would be appealing for an MLS expansion team in Los Angeles” Vela is near the top of the list, talented and accomplished, fluent in English and with considerable European experience.

Baxter has a good record on these kind of reports, and while they can fall apart, it does seem like LAFC may be on the cusp of signing their first Designated Player. Since it’s MLS time, it may not actually get announced for another three or four days, so stay tuned.

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