Galaxy Sign Longtime Barcelona Midfielder Sergi Roberto Through 2028

Spanish midfielder Sergi Roberto has joined nan Galaxy to a statement that runs done 2028.

The Galaxy announced nan woody Saturday pinch nan 34-year-old Roberto, who spent nan past 2 seasons astatine Serie A’s Como pursuing nan conclusion of his 18-year profession astatine Barcelona successful 2024. His Galaxy statement contains an action for nan 2028-29 season.

“Sergi brings a operation of leadership, method quality, tactical intelligence and title acquisition that fewer players have,” Galaxy wide head Will Kuntz said successful a statement. “He has been a cardinal personnel of immoderate of nan top teams of his procreation and understands not only what it takes to win, but what it intends to beryllium a winning team. Sergi’s character, positional versatility, and activity will beryllium invaluable.”

Roberto was a resourceful cardinal midfielder for Barcelona’s ascendant teams built astir Lionel Messi passim nan 2010s, earning 25 trophies successful each competitions pinch nan Blaugrana.

After making his first-team debut astatine 18 years old, he recorded 19 goals and 43 assists successful 373 appearances, culminating successful a twelvemonth arsenic Barca’s skipper successful 2023-24. The nine won 7 La Liga titles and 2 UEFA Champions League crowns during his tenure.

Roberto past moved to Como to play 2 seasons nether erstwhile teammate Cesc Fabregas, playing a domiciled successful nan club’s first qualification for nan Champions League.

Roberto will subordinate German prima Marco Reus successful nan Galaxy midfield. He will besides beryllium reunited pinch erstwhile Barcelona teammate Riqui Puig, who is expected to return for nan Galaxy successful 2027 aft missing 2 consecutive seasons owed to injury.

The Galaxy are sitting 12th successful nan Western Conference standings during different disappointing season, but they are making moves successful an effort to decorativeness beardown and make nan MLS playoffs earlier moving into 2027 pinch a revamped roster. Since winning their grounds sixth MLS Cup title successful 2024, nan Galaxy person won conscionable 12 of their 53 consequent MLS matches.

The Galaxy acquired Roberto 1 time aft agreeing to a indebtedness woody for Mexican guardant Hirving “Chucky” Lozano from San Diego FC.

While Roberto was a cardinal contributor astatine Barcelona for complete a decade, he has made only 11 world appearances for Spain, which had galore of soccer’s top midfielders during his prime, including Andrés Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets.

Beacham writes for nan Associated Press.