CARSON — Hirving “Chucky” Lozano’s first stop in MLS started off on the right foot, but ended with him being shut out, unable to play or train with San Diego FC.
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Last week, the 31-year-old winger moved up the freeway to the Galaxy on loan, through at least the end of 2026, affording him a chance to get his career back on track. At the end of the loan, the Galaxy will have the option to make the move permanent.
“It’s been a difficult process,” Lozano said through translation on Tuesday at Dignity Health Sports Park. “It’s been hard for me, but I am happy to be here with the the Galaxy, who’s given me a chance to play. So I’m happy to be here.
“It was a difficult process. It’s a part of life, but I lived it and I went through it with my family. I’m thankful to San Diego. I’m here now and I’m happy.”
Lozano joined San Diego FC as its first Designated Player ahead of the 2025 season. SDFC signed Lozano from PSV Eindhoven and he signed a contract through the 2028 season, with two option years. He starred right from the beginning, registering 11 goals and nine assists. However, by the end of the season, Lozano was on the bench, then out of all team activities, which continued throughout the 2026 season.
Some reports said it was a verbal altercation that transpired late in 2025, which led to his benching. Whatever it was, it led to Lozano being cast out, leaving him train on his own.
“Currently, I’m focusing on the present,” he said. “The time winning over my teammates and showing them what I’m capable of. The future, we’ll see what happens down the road, but for now, I’m focused on the present.”
Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz said he tried to make the move for Lozano back in January after Riqui Puig suffered another ACL injury.
“We called everybody from sporting directors to team admins, video analysts, data analysts. … I really tried to get a full picture of Hirving as a player and person,” Kuntz said. “That work started in the offseason, those were calls were making in January. As soon as we found out that Riqui was hurt, that we’d have a DP (Designated Player) spot open.”
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Kuntz found his answers.
“Across the board, that he’s an intense competitor, a guy who loves to train, a guy who loves to play,” Kuntz said. “Teammates had some favorable things to say about him, so we felt really comfortable that we were getting a guy who would fit in well with this group in terms of the way he goes about his business and what he brings on the field.”
When asked if he believed that Lozano has something to prove, Kuntz agreed.
“I think that’s a fair thing to say,” he said. “In our conversations, it became clear that he wants to prove it. So that was another thing we found very attractive, that he’s very motivated to show and to correct the record.
“I don’t think anybody is the same at 31, as they were at 28, but the things that attracted us then or would attract us now, is quality on the field as a winger in this league. Goal-dangerous wingers are really valuable. It’s a cheat code, I think. What he brings as a player, being dynamic, his work rate is intense. So he checks all the boxes for our profiles for a winger.”
Lozano has a $6 million salary this season, with total guaranteed compensation exceeding $9 million. His salary will not be a determent, according to Kuntz, if the Galaxy look to make the move permanent.
“What he’s earning doesn’t really come into it for us,” Kuntz said. “We’re always focused on the right player. I think that’s always been the Galaxy, right? For the right player. Our hope is that it does become permanent and the one thing we told Hirving throughout this process is look, it doesn’t matter what I think, doesn’t matter what my bosses think, it doesn’t matter what (Coach) Greg (Vanney) thinks. The one person who can control whether or not Hirving stays is Hirving, and he’s up for it. There’s no doubt about that.”
Even after being out of action since last November, Lozano said he feels good. The Galaxy’s next game is Saturday on the road against the Houston Dynamo.
“It’s going to come down to the coach,” Lozano said. “We have a plan and we’re doing our best to get there, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the coach. He decides who plays, but I’m ready.”
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