The Los Angeles Galaxy acquired midfielder Diego Fagundez from Austin FC on Tuesday in exchange for midfielder Memo Rodriguez and up to $900,000 — including $300,000 guaranteed — in general allocation money.
The Galaxy also could receive up to $150,000 in conditional GAM if Rodriguez meets certain performance metrics.
Fagundez, 28, has played in 95 matches across all competitions for Austin FC, collecting 17 goals and 23 assists. The native of Uruguay joined the club ahead of its inaugural season and scored its first goal on April 24, 2021. He is also Austin’s all-time assists leader.
This season, Fagundez had two goals and two assists in 19 MLS matches (14 starts).
“Diego is a talented, versatile and hard-working player who has consistently produced on the attacking side,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said in a news release. “We are pleased to bring him into the team as we see him sliding seamlessly into our style of play.”
For his MLS career, Fagundez has 68 goals and 67 assists in 347 career regular-season appearances (262 starts) in 13 MLS seasons (2011-present). He’s one of 11 players in MLS history with 65 goals and 65 assists in regular-season play.
Rodriguez, 27, has three goals and one assist in 16 games (10 starts) across all competitions this season for the Galaxy. The native of Wharton, Texas, signed as a free agent with the club in January.
He made his MLS debut in 2017 for the Houston Dynamo and played with them through the 2022 season. He has totaled 148 MLS appearances, with 18 goals and 15 assists.
“We are happy to have Memo return to his home state of Texas to join Austin FC,” sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said. “He is a talented midfielder who is going to help the team and knows the league well, and we wish him and his family a warm welcome to the community here in Austin.”
Austin FC (9-9-5, 32 points) are fifth in the Western Conference, while the Galaxy are 13th (5-10-7, 22 points).
–Field Level Media