{"id":13587,"date":"2018-03-28T16:42:28","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T20:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonsoccer.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=13587"},"modified":"2018-03-28T19:44:59","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T23:44:59","slug":"lafc-signs-andre-horta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2018\/03\/28\/lafc-signs-andre-horta\/","title":{"rendered":"What New Designated Player Signing Andre Horta Brings to LAFC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles FC has acquired their third and final Designated Player. The club acquired Portuguese international Andre Horta, paying a transfer fee of $7 million<\/a> to acquire his services. He joins the other two Designated Players, Carlos Vela and Diego Rossi. He will add depth to the midfield and youth to the club.<\/p>\n

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I am Black & Gold. ? @LAFC<\/a> @LAFC3252<\/a> #NewGoals<\/a> #SameAmbition<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fbQhvIBhYT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Andr\u00e9 Horta (@AndreHorta8) March 27, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What New Designated Player Signing Andre Horta Brings to LAFC<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Back in February LAFC was in Portugal scouting for talent<\/a>. One name that remained on their lips was Horta. Horta comes to LAFC from the legendary Portuguese club, Benfica<\/a>. The 21-year-old played two years on the senior squad. Currently, he is on loan to SC Braga. Though he has not made it to the senior Portuguese National Team, he is scoring incredible goals for their\u00a0U-21 squad.<\/p>\n

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\u26bd? @AndreHorta8<\/a>‘s goal that helped @selecaoportugal<\/a> beat Switzerland 4-2 in Euro U-21 Qualifying.#LAFC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lRQ9vFcRn7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LAFC (@LAFC) March 27, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Adding Depth to the Midfield<\/h2>\n

While at Benfica, Horta played a crucial role in their midfield. This brought attention from Braga. It was at Braga where Horta would shine. His role was to play wide and go inside on the attack. How that will transfer to LAFC will be the opposite. As a puppet master of the midfield, Horta will play inside. He will be crucial for LAFC since they are known for attacks down the middle.<\/p>\n

Youth is an important part of the LAFC equation. The young midfielder will be able to grow into the system in a new organization looking to win straight out of the gate. Like Rossi, one of the team’s other young designated players, he has years to continue playing under the Bob Bradley strategy. This signing maintains the popular trend in Major League Soccer of adding young players as Designated Players<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Horta joining LAFC comes on the heels of another European soccer player making the City of Angels their new home. Last week, crosstown rivals Los Angeles Galaxy acquired Swedish international, Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Manchester United<\/a>. LAFC will play Los Angeles Galaxy in their first LA Derby<\/a> this Saturday at the StubHub Center.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>