Javier “Chicharito” Hernández told reporters Thursday afternoon that he will return to the LA Galaxy for the 2023 MLS season as a Designated Player. The Galaxy captain has 17 goals and two assists in 30 games played for the Blue, White and Gold.
“I have a clause three plus one, when I reach 11 goals and 60 percent of the minutes it automatically renews,” he told reporters. The clause was not publicly known until Hernández spoke today. The Striker got confirmation on the details of the clause from an LA Galaxy representative.
Chicharito has played 2,433 of a possible 2,880 minutes through 32 games in 2023. He scored his 11th goal of the season in the Galaxy's 3-3 draw with the Seattle Sounders on Aug.19.
Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer had a rough first season with the Galaxy as he scored just two goals in the 2020 campaign. His 2021 season saw Hernández find the goalscoring prowess many expected as he notched 17 goals in 21 games played.
With his 17 goals so far in 2022, Chicharito sits in 7th place among all-time regular season goal scorers for the Galaxy, with 36 during his time in Carson. Chicharito was also the MLS All-Star captain in Minnesota earlier this year.
Moving up the leaderboard 📈@CH14_ ranks as the 7th highest #LAGalaxy regular-season goal scorer! pic.twitter.com/w6N8L6qbXF
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) September 29, 2022
Hernández has scored 10 goals in his last 10 games to help LA control its MLS Cup playoff destiny. The Galaxy will host 8th place Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday night.
The Galaxy will also open the 2023 MLS season at the Rose Bowl in Passedna against cross-town rivals LAFC.