The LA Galaxy have signed 26-year old Dutch defender, Pele van Anholt as was first reported by ESPN FC reporter, Jeff Carlisle. Van Anholt is due to undergo a medical before joining the team for training on July 13th.
Corner of the Galaxy has also independently confirmed the signing and a source close to the club says the deal is done. A press release is expected Tuesday or Wednesday.
The Galaxy have been particularly thin at right back since trading AJ DeLaGarza before the season started and placing Robbie Rogers on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list.
The Galaxy initially started the season with Rafael Garcia converting from a defensive midfielder to a temporary right back, before alternating between Bradley Diallo and Nathan Smith. Smith and Diallo both showing promise, but also showing their youth with inconsistency.
Van Anholt is predominantly a right back but is versatile in being able to play on the left side of defense as well. This should give the Galaxy some options down the line as Ashley Cole’s run with the club will eventually come to an end and the club has shown some promise from both Smith, Diallo, and Dave Romney.
Having played in 150 matches in the Eredivisie – the Dutch 1st division – he was last under contract with Wilhelm II for the 2016-17 season. There, he played in 24 matches according to Transfermrkt.com.
The Galaxy will add Van Anholt to the roster in place of Rogers. This is an important distinction because, under MLS roster rules, this will mean that Van Anholt will also take the salary cap space for Rogers. However, because of the timing on Rogers’ movement to the SEI list – after the primary transfer window closed, the Galaxy can not recoup any potential difference between the two salaries.
Example Only: Rogers salary cap hit is $225,000. Van Anholt makes $200,000. Galaxy are still on the hook for $225,000 and won’t get cap relief for anything below $225,000. Also, they can’t add someone to the roster in Rogers spot if the salary is more than $225,000.
The terms of the contract are so far, unknown.
INTERNATIONAL ROSTER SLOTS
Another interesting wrinkle in this signing is that it is assumed Van Anholt will use an International slot. The Galaxy currently have eight slots on the roster and seven of them are being used. Van Anholt would be the eighth.
- Romain Alessandrini
- João Pedro
- Ashley Cole
- Bradley Diallo
- Giovani dos Santos
- Raul Mendiola
- Jelle Van Damme
- Unused (Pele van Anholt)
This would lead some to believe that any Designated Player signing – the Galaxy have been linked to many – would need to be done with either a domestic player or, the club would need to trade or buy a slot from another team. Having all 8 positions filled, the Galaxy would then be in the hunt for a ninth making any future signing of an international player, more difficult.
This might lend more credence to the fact the Galaxy may not make a summer Designated Player signing. Something fans have been clamoring for.
Although the names of André-Pierre Gignac, Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic continue to be mentioned alongside the Galaxy, there doesn’t seem to be the same confidence that the club can work out a summer deal.
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window will remain open until August 9, 2017 (opened today, July 10, 2017).
Van Anholt seems like a competent defender and he’ll be joining a team that has been lacking in quality at the position since the club reported for preseason.
And while he’ll enter the team as a virtual unknown, with the Galaxy starving for consistency, he may end up being one of its saviors. And at 26-years old, he fits into the “younger” plan the Galaxy have been preaching since they crashed out of the playoffs in 2016.
PELE VAN ANHOLT HIGHLIGHTS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsyvPZ8k5hI&t=184s