The transfer window was expected to be busy for the Galaxy and it’s starting to heat up.
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Last week, the Galaxy signed free-agent forward Robert Taylor to a guaranteed contract through 2026. Taylor made his debut in Saturday’s 3-0 loss against LAFC.
On Tuesday, the Galaxy added Kyōgo Furuhashi, a forward from Birmingham City, through the 2030-31 season. Furuhashi scored three goals in 31 games in the EFL Championship last season.
In another previous stop, he scored 85 goals in eight seasons with Scottish Premiership’s Celtic FC.
“He brings a wealth of experience having played matches with Japanese National Team, in the UEFA Champions League, and in some of the best domestic leagues in Europe,” Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz said of Furuhashi. “We’re thrilled to add a player of his caliber, goal scoring ability, and diverse experience to our group and look forward to the impact he will make on and off the field.”
Furuhashi will occupy an international spot and will be eligible once he receives his P-1 visa.
The move, although not a splashy one that fans expected, falls right in line with how coach Greg Vanney laid out the team’s goals for the window. The club still has an open Designated Player spot to fill and an U-22 roster slot to fill, which would be four additional players. Before the window, Vanney said he thought as many as five players would be arriving.
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The Galaxy are currently without a forward. Marco Reus started Friday’s game in a false-nine role. João Klauss remains sidelined with a foot injury, but is trending toward ramping up his return.
“We have a tentative timeline, a hopeful timeline that it would be like mid-August or something in that way,” Vanney said of Klauss’ return.
While players are coming in and others are on the way back, the schedule, as it showed Friday, isn’t waiting for the Galaxy. First is a midweek clash against St. Louis CITY SC, followed by a trip up north for a California Clasico against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.
“Robert (Taylor) gives us something,” Vanney said after Friday’s loss. “He’s just not really fit yet. He hasn’t played a game in a while and he showed just last week, so we knew we had a limited amount, but I feel like he gives us something a little bit different out there.
“As a group, the ball needs to move a little quicker and we need to rotate from one side to the other faster. We really overplayed one side (right), especially in the first half (against LAFC) and I just felt like it became so predictable that it was easy for them to organize the defending over on that side. It was hard for Joe (Joseph Paintsil) to build speed because it was just so dense over there. Some of it is adapting to the group and recognizing the kind of game. The second is continuing to tweak things. If we have another winger, I can use Joe at the nine. We can do some other things.”
NOTES
Erik Thommy (foot) is out for Wednesday’s game. He left Friday’s loss against LAFC in the first half. A timetable for his return hasn’t been released.
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Edwin Cerrillo will serve a one-game suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
ST. LOUIS CITY SC at GALAXY
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park
How to watch: Apple TV