Galaxy land Lozano on loan

CARSON, California (AP) :

The LA Galaxy have acquired forward Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano on loan from San Diego FC for the remainder of the Major League Soccer season, with an option to make the move permanent through trade.

The deal ends a long standoff between the 31-year-old Lozano and San Diego, who signed the Mexican star from PSV Eindhoven in 2024 as their first designated player. Lozano scored 11 goals and added nine assists in 34 appearances during San Diego’s successful inaugural season in 2025, becoming a fan favourite. But he was benched late in the campaign after a locker-room altercation, and his relationship with the club deteriorated.

Sporting director Tyler Heaps confirmed Lozano would not return, leaving San Diego to search for months for a new home for one of MLS’ highest-paid players. Lozano had hoped for reconciliation, but his absence from club football contributed to Mexico’s decision to omit him from what would have been his third World Cup appearance this summer.

“We have been working with Hirving and his side to find the right opportunity for him to get him back on the field,” Heaps said. “We appreciate his contributions during our record-setting inaugural season and wish him well as he continues his career.”

Both San Diego and the Galaxy are struggling this season. San Diego sit 13th in the Western Conference, while the Galaxy are one point ahead in 12th. LA have managed just 24 goals in 19 matches, selling co-leader Gabriel Pec to Cruzeiro and losing Joao Klauss to injury. Lozano will fill the designated player slot vacated by Pec.

Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz welcomed the signing.

“Hirving is a player whom we tried to acquire three years ago, so this feels like something of a full circle moment,” Kuntz said.

Lozano joins a list of Mexican stars to play for the Galaxy, including Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández and brothers Giovani and Jonathan Dos Santos.

Since winning their record sixth MLS Cup in 2024, the Galaxy have gone 12-16-25 in league play. Their struggles have coincided with the absence of Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig, the playmaker behind their title run, who is expected to return in 2027 after missing two full seasons through injury.