Ola Kamara talks exclusively with Corner of the Galaxy about his new contract.
Carson, CA. – The LA Galaxy, confident that Ola Kamara can provide some much-needed offensive punch, have given him plenty of financial incentive to do just that with a new three-year contract extension.
The striker, speaking exclusively to CoG after training on Saturday, confirmed the move by saying “Yeah, thank you,” after being congratulated. “It’s two years … two plus one,” he clarified.
He said he and the Galaxy reached agreement on a two-year deal that includes a club option for a third year, a somewhat standard contract for three years in Major League Soccer, with most players signing two-year contracts or one and one.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle was the first to report the deal and said the Galaxy will pay the former Columbus Crew standout, who came to the Galaxy in an off-season trade for Gyasi Zardes and targeted allocation money (TAM), close to $1 million per year.
“All the contracts I was offered were a three-year or four-year deal,” Kamara admitted to CoG when asked if this was always in the cards for the striker when he joined the club.
The 28-year-old Norwegian is in his third year in MLS. In his first two years in Columbus he earned $482,500 (according to numbers released by the MLS Players Union). The increase in salary is significant and more than just a “cost of living” adjustment.
But the numbers also back up the significant investment the Galaxy have placed in him. With 36 goals in 67 games in the regular season and MLS Cup playoffs, he’s been one of the league’s most consistent scorers. He’s scored one goal in three games this season for the Galaxy and has gone the full 90 minutes in each game.
And if the reported contract amount is even close to correct, the club appears to be signaling Kamara definitely is in their long-term plans despite recently adding Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored two goals in a sensational debut in last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Los Angeles FC at StubHub Center.
For now, at least, Kamara can rest easy knowing the Galaxy want him to stay in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future.
Larry Morgan contributed to this report
