LAFC2 has signed seven players to the team’s 2026 MLS NEXT Pro roster, including: midfielder Gavin Zambrano, defender Giuliano Whitchurch, defender Travis Babineau, midfielder Eddie Villeda, forward Ernesto Rodriguez, defender Luke Goodman, and goalkeeper Ethan Scally.
Zambrano, who is signed through 2028 with an option for 2029 made his initial LAFC2 debut on September 8, 2024, playing 34 minutes as a substitute against Sporting KC II. A graduate of the LAFC Academy, the Crenshaw, California native went on to appear in 15 matches throughout the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season, starting four and notching three goals in 541 minutes played.
LAFC2 signed Whitchurch – LAFC’s 24th overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft 2026 – through 2026 with options June 2027 and June 2028. The former Princeton University defender earned First Team All-Ivy honors his junior and senior seasons. A native of San Diego, he anchored one of the best defenses in the nation as the Tigers recorded a program-best 13 shutouts and allowed just four goals during the 2025 regular season as a senior. He also helped Princeton win the 2025 Ivy League Championship and its second-consecutive Ivy League Tournament, marking the first time a team has won both competitions in the same season.
Babineau, who signed with LAFC2 through June 2026 with an option to extend through the end of the year, came up through the LA Galaxy Academy before playing two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino where he became team captain, played a total of 35 games, scored two goals and was a scholar athlete. The Santa Barbara native then transferred to UC Irvine where he appeared in 18 matches and scored two goals.
A star at Servite High School where he was a four-year letter winner and 2021 All-CIF honoree, Villeda signed with LAFC2 through June 2026 with an option through the end of the year. Originally from Compton, California, Villeda played four years at UC Santa Barbara where he racked up 72 appearances (52 starts), four goals, four assists and All-Big West Second Team honors his senior season.
Rodriguez signed with LAFC2 through June 2026 with an option through the end of the year. The Camarillo, California native recently produced two impressive goal-scoring seasons at Oxnard College, notching 27 goals (and seven assists) in 35 appearances (34 starts).
Goodman, who signed with LAFC2 through June 2026 with an option to extend through the end of the year, was a four-year starter at UC Davis where he appeared in a total of 69 matches (65 starts) while recording a goal and three assists. A native of Santa Barbara, Goodman helped lead the Aggies to back-to-back Big West tournament championship game appearances, winning the title as a junior.
Scally, a Los Angeles native, has signed with LAFC through June 2030 with an option for June 2031. The LAFC Academy product featured in two MLS NEXT Pro matches last season, and really made his mark on the international stage, representing Japan at the U-17 AFC Asian Cup and U-17 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2025 at which he helped Japan win its group and reach the quarterfinals by keeping a pair of clean sheets in the team’s opening match of each stage.
The seven players, all California natives, will be added to LAFC2’s roster ahead of the team’s season opener away to the Tacoma Defiance this Sunday, March 1. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. PT and will be available to watch on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Name: Gavin Zambrano
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'8”
Birthplace: Crenshaw, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: LAFC Academy
Name: Giuliano Whitchurch
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3”
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Princeton University
Name: Travis Babineau
Position: Defender
Height: 5’8”
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: UC Irvine
Name: Eddie Villeda
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5'10"
Birthplace: Compton, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: US Santa Barbara
Name: Ernesto Rodriguez
Position: Forward
Height: 5’8”
Birthplace: Camarillo, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: Oxnard College
Name: Luke Goodman
Position: Defender
Height: 6’3”
Birthplace: Santa Barbara, CA
Citizenship: United States
Last Club: UC Davis
Name: Ethan Scally
Position: Goalkeeper
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Citizenship: United States, Japan
Last Club: LAFC Academy
TRANSACTIONS: LAFC2 signs Gavin Zambrano through 2028 with an option for 2029, Giuliano Whitchurch through 2026 with options for June 2027 and June 2028, Travis Babineau, Eddie Villeda, Ernesto Rodriguez, and Luke Goodman through June 2026 with an option to extend through the end of the year. LAFC signs Ethan Scally through June 2030 with an option for June 2031.
