LA Galaxy is building a new backline core.
The club officially announced the signing of 19-year-old Argentine defender Julián Aude from Club Atlético Lanús on Tuesday morning as a U-22 initiative player, completing a transaction it had been reportedly exploring in recent weeks.
Aude has signed a contract through the end of the 2027 season and will be added to the club’s roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). The Argentine youth international has recorded one goal and one assist in 54 career appearances for Lanús, and profiles as a left back for the Galaxy.
To comply with MLS roster rules, LA made 20-year-old midfielder Efrain Alvarez a Targeted Allocation Money player to open the U22 spot for Aude. Additionally, the Galaxy completed a trade earlier Tuesday. of $150,000 in General Allocation Money to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for an international roster spot.
“We are pleased to announce Julián as the newest member of the club,” LA Galaxy Head Coach and Sporting Director Greg Vanney said in a press release. “Julián is a very talented and highly competitive young player with a great education from his previous club Lanús and with the Argentine Youth National Teams. We look forward to integrating him into the team and continuing his development.”
The more for Aude comes after the Galaxy finalized a loan deal for right back Lucas Calegari at the end of last month
Aude was a contributor in Argentina’s journey to winning the 2019 South American U-17 Championship, logging one assist in six starts during the competition. Just earlier this year, he made three starts for Argentina at the 2023 U-20 South American Championship in Colombia.
“Julián is one of the best young left backs in South America and he’s a player that our scouting department has been following for quite some time,” said LA Galaxy Technical Director Jovan Kirovski. “We’re excited for Julián to join the Galaxy and for him to begin contributing to our group.”
With Aude on the Galaxy roster, the club has set up a young core on the backlines. Calegari (20), Neal (19), and now Aude could all start together at times this season.
In two starts, Neal has shown lots of promise and poise, with managert Greg Vanney praising his decision-making. The Galaxy also has a trio of veteran center backs in Sega Coulibaly, Martín Cáceres, and Chris Mavinga.
Calegari is in training with the Galaxy but has yet to play a minute of MLS action. The 20-year-old fullback was part of the Brazilian youth national teams program. He'll be competing for minutes at right back with veteran Kelvin Leerdam.
Aude now expands the Galaxy’s options at the other defensive flank now expand. Current starter Raheem Edwards is a more offensively oriented player and backup Chase Gasper has not impressed when on the field.
