LA Galaxy in the process of signing Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig
The LA Galaxy are in the process of signing Spanish midfielder Riqui Puig from Barcelona, multiple sources have told The Athletic, though the deal is pending some manoeuvring in regards to the Major League Soccer salary cap. Galaxy midfielder Rayan Raveloson flew to France to complete a medical with Ligue 1 side Auxerre on Wednesday. An agreement is in place to sell Raveloson to the French team, and when that deal is completed it would clear the way for Puig to sign with the Galaxy. According to a source, the terms are agreed for the free transfer of Puig to Los Angeles. The MLS secondary transfer window closes on Thursday, so the deals would need to be finalised before the midnight Central Time deadline. Puig, who turns 23 next week, was raised through Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy and starred for Barcelona B from 2018-20. He was promoted to the first team in 2020 and was thought to be a key part of the future at Barca, but he has fallen out-of-favour despite featuring for the Spanish giants more than 60 times over the past three seasons. Raveloson, a Madagascar international, joined the Galaxy in 2021 after helping French side Troyes earn promotion from Ligue 2. He has made 44 appearances for LA, scoring eight goals and registering five assists during that time. Selling Raveloson will clear significant cap space for the Galaxy — he was making £642, 174 ($780,000) as a base salary this year, according to the MLS Players Association. The Galaxy narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season and added former Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa as a designated player this past off-season to join Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in the attack. LA currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference standings, two points out of a play-off spot with a game in hand. GO DEEPER In Riqui Puig, Barcelona have a star amongst another solid La Masia class (Photo: Getty Images)
LA Galaxy reach agreement to sign Riqui Puig
For a few days now, it has been rumoured that Riqui Puig would not be in Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez's plans for next season. The La Masia product has reportedly reached an agreement to join Los Angeles Galaxy. In their bid to make space in their salary cap and cash in on players who will not get any playing time this season, Barcelona will offload Puig to the MLS side. According to Fabrizio Romano, Puig will put pen to paper on a three-year deal and he is already in LA where he is expected to pass his medical. Barcelona tried to offload Puig in the past, but the 23-year-old midfielder asked for an opportunity to establish himself in the team's starting line-up. He joined Barcelona back in 2014 but never managed to live up to expectations at the Camp Nou. Meanwhile, the Blaugrana also want to part ways with fringe players Neto, Martin Braithwaite and Samuel Umtiti.
Report: FC Barcelona Youngster Riqui Puig Nearing Transfer to LA Galaxy
No one could’ve seen this coming. Riqui Puig, one of FC Barcelona’s highly-touted youth prospects for the last few years, reportedly is nearing a transfer to MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano: The 22-year-old midfielder has been considered a top prospect from Barcelona’s infamous La Masia academy, but he’s been unable to take the leap into the first team for several reasons. Following the recent hiring of manager Xavi Hernández, Puig fell further down in the pecking order and doesn’t seem to be in Xavi’s plans moving forward. Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Miralem Pjanic are ahead of Puig in the depth chart, along with newly acquired Franck Kessié. With the MLS secondary transfer window closing on Aug.