The LA Galaxy has signed homegrown wide midfielder Jonathan Pérez to a four-year contract extension through the end of the 2026 MLS season with a club option for 2027. The 19-year-old has made seven appearances for the LA Galaxy and made his LA Galaxy debut off the bench against the Seattle Sounders on May 2, 2021.
“We are excited for Jonny to sign a long-term deal to continue his pathway at the Galaxy,” said LA Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney. “Jonny is a talented and dynamic winger that has developed through the LA Galaxy Academy and made an impact at every level. We look forward to his continued growth and success with the first team in the years to come.”
Pérez is a product of the LA Galaxy system, the Pico Rivera native has represented the LA Galaxy academy at the U-13, U-14, U-15 U-16/17, and U-18/19 levels. He made more than 100 appearances and, in the process, scoring 41 goals.
His production with the LA Galaxy academy caught the interest of Mexico’s youth teams. Pérez participated with Mexico’s U-16, U-18, U-19 and U-20 teams over the past couple of years. He would tally one goal and two assists in five appearances for the U-20 Mexican National Team at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Honduras.
The 19-year-old made 33 appearances for LA Galaxy II in the USL Championship where he scored eight goals and registered eight assists. During his four starts with Los Dos in 2022, Pérez recorded three goals and three assists.
Pérez has made seven appearances for the LA Galaxy since his debut. He found the back of the net during the Leagues Cup showcase match against Liga MX side Club Deportivo Guadalajara in front of 71,000 fans at SoFi Stadium.
Pico Rivera stand up ✨
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) August 4, 2022
Another look at @JonnyPerez_24's @LeaguesCup golazo. pic.twitter.com/PFrRSw6hKx
Unfortunately for Pérez, his season ended early as he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the campaign. LA has struggled to get productions from the wingers and although he's not a starter on the team, the extension points to the direction that he'll play a bigger role during his time with the Galaxy.
