WASHINGTON D.C. (August 10, 2017) – After an impressive run in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, Paul Arriola is coming back to the United States. The American has signed a deal with D.C. United that involved a $3.5 million payment his Liga MX club, Club Tijuana. United also payed $500,000 in allocation money to the LA Galaxy for Arriola’s MLS rights.
Paul Arriola To D.C. United In $4 Million Deal With Xolos, LA Galaxy
Paul Arriola is a California native and spent a little less than a year in the LA Galaxy Academy. He signed for Club Tijuana at the age of 18, picking them over the Galaxy. Former LA Galaxy Head Coach Bruce Arena started calling him into the United States Men’s National Team in 2017. Arriola had an impressive 2017 Gold Cup run and that got him back on the radar for MLS clubs.
D.C. United has been struggling all year and the offense just hasn’t had a spark. With Arriola back on the radar of MLS, they made their move. Because of Arriola’s time with the LA Galaxy academy, they had to negociate with both Xolos and the Galaxy for his MLS rights. In a transfer deadline move, they sent a reported $3.5 million to Xolos. They sent the Galaxy $300,000 in GAM ($200,000 in 2018 and $100,000 in 2019) and $200,000 in TAM in 2018 for his MLS rights. Arriola will be classified as a Yough DP.
What It Means For D.C. United:
They’ve also had several injuries. While this season is probably lost, this move gives them something to build on for next season. Adding Arriola makes D.C. United a slightly more attractive landing spot. Combined with a new soccer-specific stadium on the way, this could allow United to spend some more money and get some better players.
The wheels fell off on this season pretty early. Still, Head Coach Ben Olsen has done a lot historically with a bottom of the league budget. Imagine what he could do with some quality DPs and TAM level signings. Arriola is the start of that. He gets to move back home where he’ll get a lot more playing time that he would going forward in Liga MX. He could be a center piece to the attack as well. If he performs well, his stock with the USMNT and Bruce Arena will only go up heading into the 2018 World Cup.
What It Means For LA Galaxy:
This move points out a flaw/loop hole in the MLS transfer system. The Galaxy had Arriola for less a year. Maybe the academy system did help Arriola develop and increase his value. I doubt that impact was work half a million dollars though. Perhaps the league needs to look into a situation like this where (because of America Child Labor Laws and MLS Single Entity) an MLS team doesn’t get anything when a foreign team signs their academy product right out of high school.
Regardless, the Galaxy got a good chunk of change in this deal. All the money they got in this move is earmarked for 2018 or 2019. They won’t be able to do much now to effect the 2017 season, but this is money they can use to improve the team starting this off-season.
Transaction: LA Galaxy receive $500,000 in Allocation Money ($300,000 in General Allocation Monday; $200,000 in Targeted Allocation Money) from D.C. United in exchange for the rights to midfielder Paul Arriola.
