Orlando City SC Trade LA Galaxy For Jose Villarreal

Villarreal signed as a Homegrown with LA Galaxy before the 2012 MLS season as a teenager. He was part of a young wave of academy products that the club ultimately parted ways with after the 2017 season. In total, Villarreal played 2354 minutes with the LA Galaxy (68 appearances, 25 starts). He recorded five goals and nine assists.

The California native got his first real chance to start in MLS in 2013. After that season, he had a rather unsuccessful 2014 loan stint with Cruz Azul of Liga MX. After that, he spent much of his time in Los Angeles with LA Galaxy II in the USL. Villarreal did start much of the 2015 season as a wide midfielder, but could not retain that position under then Head Coach Bruce Arena.

Villarreal was given a legitimate shot to start for the first team in 2017 under Curt Onalfo. Ultimately, the youth movement was abandoned as was Villarreal’s former Los Dos manager. Sigi Schmid took the organization in a different direction and Villarreal was cut loose.

Transaction: LA Galaxy acquire third-round pick in 2019 MLS SuperDraft from Orlando City SC in exchange for the rights to forward Jose Villarreal.

Name: Jose Villarreal
Position: Midfielder
Age: 24
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 160
Birthplace: Inglewood, CA
Former Club: LA Galaxy

What it means for all parties:

The Galaxy get some asset in exchange for a player they were not going to bring back. I cannot say a third round pick has much value these days, but perhaps the Galaxy can get a player out of this.

Orlando City SC trade for a player who could use a change of scenery and an organization that believes in him. Villarreal never really ironed out a position at the MLS level. In a way, he was a jack of all (midfield and forward) trades and a master of none. He and Orlando will have to figure out where he fits into the squad and if he can succeed in that role.