LAFC’s Soccer Operations office has always been committed to providing the best career opportunities for players wearing the Black & Gold, from first-team veterans to LAFC Academy prospects. Those who move on permanently become “Part of Our History” – which is more than just a catchphrase. Here’s a look at the soccer journeys of players who are on loan from LAFC or have transferred to non-MLS teams, but remain part of the LAFC family.
PERMANENT TRANSFERS:
BRIAN RODRIGUEZ - Club Ameríca (Liga MX)
It’s hard to believe that the talented Uruguayan teenager who signed with LAFC in 2019 and appeared in 55 MLS matches is about to turn 24. Rodriguez, a slashing winger, has been with Club Ameríca, one of the giants of Mexican football, since August 2022. He has played in 25 matches so far in the 2024 Clausura season, recording five goals and two assists, including a handsome first-time strike against Atlético San Luis on March 29. Rodriguez scored again four days later in a first leg win over the New England Revolution in CONCACAF Champions Cup on April 2, and in the second leg as well on April 9.
DIEGO PALACIOS - Corinthians (Campeonato Brasileiro Série A)
LAFC’s longtime left back, a two-time Supporters’ Shield winner and 2022 MLS Cup Champion, transferred to the Série A club in January. Corinthians’ regular season begins April 14 with a home match against Atlético Maneiro.
JOSE CIFUENTES – Cruzeiro (Campeonato Brasileiro Série A)
Cifuentes, who is tied for fourth on LAFC’s “most MLS appearances” list (with Palacios and Eduard Atuesta) is on loan with Cruzeiro, from Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Cruzeiro’s regular season begins April 14. “Cifu” played 90 minutes of a 0-0 draw with Universidad Católica on April 4, in the group stage of Copa Sudamericana. (Cifuentes and Cruziero will host Palacios and Corinthians on June 29.)
DENIL MALDONADO - Universitatea Craiova (Romanian Liga 1)
A regular on LAFC’s back line a year ago, Maldonado has appeared in 11 matches for Universitatea Craiova this season (7 starts). The Honduran center back scored a goal on February 26. Universitatea Craiova currently stands in second place in the table.
DANNY CRISOSTOMO - Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)
The midfielder, a SoCal native and UC Irvine product (who recently became a father for the first time), has started all four regular season matches so far for the Rowdies (1W-0L-3D).
CAL JENNINGS - Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL Championship)
Like Crisostomo, Jennings was with LAFC during its 2022 championship season and currently plays for the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The forward, a former University of Central Florida star, has started all four games for the Rowdies this season, scoring two goals.
TONY LEONE – Monterrey (Liga MX)
A Long Beach, Calif., native and LAFC Academy alumnus, Leone signed with Mexican power C.F. Monterrey in January. The center back started and played all 90 minutes of Los Rayados’ 2-1 defeat at Cruz Azul last week.
CHRISTIAN TORRES – Chivas (Liga MX)
A Fontana, Calif., native and LAFC Academy alumnus, Torres signed with Chivas (C.D. Guadalajara) two months ago and is currently with C.D. Tapatío, the Liga MX club’s reserve team.
FILIP KRASTEV - PEC Zwolle (Eredivisie)
The Bulgarian midfielder made 12 appearances across all competitions for LAFC in 2023, scoring two goals. Now he plays for Dutch club PEC Zwolle, where he has made nine appearances in 2024 (five starts) and contributed a goal and an assist.
DANNY TREJO - Korona Kielce (Ekstraklasa)
A Cal State Northridge product and LAFC’s top draft pick in 2021, Trejo, a forward, helped Phoenix Rising win the USL Championship title in 2023, scoring 19 goals and dishing out nine assists. Trejo signed with Polish club Korona Kielce in January and so far has recorded one goal and two assists in six appearances.
SEBASTIAN MÉNDEZ – Elche C.F. (LaLiga 2)
The Ecuadorian midfielder and 2022 MLS Cup Champion is currently playing with Elche C.F. in Spain, on loan from São Paulo of Brazil’s top division.
CRISTIAN TELLO - Al Fateh (Saudi Pro League)
The 32-year-old Spanish international (and 2022 MLS Cup Champion) plays in Saudi Arabia’s top flight, where he currently leads his club, Al Fateh, in goals scored this season (10).
JAMES MURPHY - Detroit City FC (USL Championship)
A midfielder who was part of LAFC’s first season in 2018, Murphy, 26, has started all four of Detroit City’s games this season. Last year with Monterey Bay FC, he played 86 minutes in MBFC’s memorable U.S. Open Cup match against LAFC, which the Black & Gold won on penalty kicks.
LOANS:
MAMADOU FALL - Barcelona B (Primera Federación Group 1 [Spanish third tier])
The lanky Senegalese defender had a penchant for scoring headed goals with LAFC’s senior team in 2021 and 2022. Fall is currently on loan to Barcelona FC, where he plays for its reserve team - Barça B. He starts and plays all 90 minutes of almost every game. Fall scored a goal March 16 against Teruel.
FRANCISCO GINELLA – Nacional (Uruguayan Primera División)
The Uruguayan midfielder appeared in 54 MLS matches (28 starts) for LAFC between 2020 and 2022. Currently on loan to Nacional, “Pancho” starts most games for the Montevideo-based club, which currently stands in fourth place in the table.
STIPE BIUK - Real Valladolid (LaLiga 2)
Biuk, a winger who started 13 games and scored three goals for LAFC in 2023, has so far appeared in eight matches (four starts), and contributed one assist during his loan spell with Real Valladolid.
MARIO GONZÁLEZ - Sporting de Gijón (LaLiga 2)
The Spanish striker who appeared in eight MLS matches (five starts) for LAFC in 2023 and tallied a goal and an assist, has appeared in ten matches so far during his loan period with Sporting de Gijón, notching his first goal for the club on April 7.
sources: FBRef.com; en.as.com; corinthians.com.br; _clubamerica.com.mx_; dailyrecord.co.uk; fcbarcelona.com; laliga.com/en-GB; rfef.es/es
