On Tuesday, LAFC announced its roster moves for the 2023 MLS season, which is set to kick off on Feb. 25 against the LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl. After exercising four player options and declining four, the Black & Gold currently has 23 players under contract heading into next year.
Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, defender Mamadou Fall, and midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Latif Blessing all had their contract options exercised. LAFC declined contract options on goalkeeper Tomas Romero and forwards Danny Trejo, Cal Jennings and Cristian Tello, although the latter is expected to renegotiate his contract with the club.
Romero, Jennings and Trejo will be eligible for the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft Process, with Stage 1 taking place on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. PT and Stage 2 on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 10 a.m. PT.
Jennings and Trejo each made three appearances for the Black & Gold during the 2022 season while Romero did not see any action with the first team.
Defenders Ryan Hollingshead, Franco Escobar, Sebastien Ibeagha, Eddie Segura, and midfielder Sebastian Mendez are all out contract and will become free agents. However, LAFC will look to retain all five for the 2023 season and is currently negotiating new deals with each player.
The 23 players currently under contract for 2023 include:
Goalkeepers
Maxime Crepeau and John McCarthy
Quick takeaway: With Crepeau expected to miss the start of the 2023 season due to injury and Romero out of contract with the club, LAFC will certainly be looking to add some depth in goal during the offseason. McCarthy is the next man up, but more will be needed in the event that Crepeau is out for longer than expected.
Defenders
Jesus Murillo, Giorgio Chiellini, Diego Palacios, Mamadou Fall, Tony Leone, Julian Gaines, Mohamed Traore, and Erik Duenas
Quick takeaway: Defense wins championships, and if LAFC want to go back-to-back for MLS Cup, the club will have to invest on the defensive end. The Black & Gold has plenty of young prospects along the backline, but experience and veteran leadership is what this team needs to continue on the path of success. Fall is on loan with Villareal CF until June 2023.
Midfielders
Kellyn Acosta, Jose Cifuentes, Ilie Sanchez, Latif Blessing, and Francisco Ginella
Quick takeaway: With the possibility of both Acosta and Cifuentes being sold after the World Cup, LAFC's midfield looks set to be the most impacted during the offseason. Bringing back Mendez will be key, and with Ginella on loan with Uruguayan club Nacional until the summer, this is a position that the Black & Gold will heavily focus on reinforcing.
Forwards
Carlos Vela, Cristian Arango, Gareth Bale, Denis Bouanga, Kwadwo Opoku, Christian Torres, and Nathan Ordaz
Quick takeaway: No surprises here. Everyone that should be back will return for 2023 in the attack for LAFC. I don't expect much movement other than the club working out a deal to keep Tello in the Black & Gold uniform. Torres and Ordaz are two teenagers from the LAFC Academy that have a very promising future and will surely learn alot from their teammates on offense.