Yoshida, former captain of Japan’s national soccer team, leaves Europe for LA Galaxy
SEOUL, South Korea (Yonhap) – Veteran center back Maya Yoshida, 34, a former captain of Japan’s national soccer team, has joined the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League 스포츠토토 Soccer (MLS) after more than a decade in Europe.The Galaxy announced on Thursday (July 4) that they have signed Yoshida to a one-and-a-half-year contract through the end of the 2024 MLS regular season.Yoshida is a key defender who has played 126 caps for Japan since 2010. His 126 caps ranks third on the Japan Men’s National Team’s all-time list.He has appeared in three World Cups – Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and last year’s tournament in Qatar, where he captained Japan to the round of 16.He made his professional debut in 2007 with Nagoya Grampus of Japan’s J-League, where he spent his youth career, before joining Fenway in the Netherlands in 2010.He played for Southampton in England from 2012-2020 and Sampdoria in Italy from 2020-2022 before spending the 2022-2023 season with Schalke in the German Bundesliga, making 31 appearances in all competitions, including 29 league games.The LA Galaxy, the former club of England star David Beckham, current Inter Miami owner, and South Korean “legend” Hong Myung-bo, current Ulsan Hyundai head coach, are 13th out of 14 teams in the Western Conference with 22 points in the 2023 MLS regular 스포츠토토 season, which began in February.”Yoshida is a top-notch center back who brings exceptional experience and leadership qualities to our team,” said head coach Gregg Vanney.