Belgian defender Jelle Van Damme is heading home. The Galaxy sold the 33-year-old center back to Royal Antwerp of the Jupiler Pro League for a transfer fee of $235,000.
Van Dammedeparts after making 46 appearances over two years. He was a 2016 MLS Best XI pick and two-time MLS all-star, but the number everyone will remember is a league-high three red cards in 18 games in2017.
Roller-coasterseason. Then-coach Curt Onalfo benched Van Damme in the first half of a match against Chicago in early May. The Belgian responded to lead the Galaxy on a six-game unbeaten streak but theGalaxy hasn’t won a game since then. In Van Damme’s last appearance, new coach Sigi Schmid‘s first game back with the Galaxy, he
Frenchreplacement. The Galaxy is expected to sign 33-year-old French center back Michael Ciani, a veteran of nine teams in France, Italy and Spain, as a replacement. As a free agent, Cianican be signed at any time before MLS rosters are frozen on Sept. 15.
LA Galaxy general manager Pete Vagenas: “Jelle cameto us and requested to return home to Belgium to be closer to his children. We worked closely with Jelle and Royal Antwerp so that we could make this move possible for Jelle and his family. Our toppriority remains the success of the LA Galaxy.”
Too bad he had to leave, he is a very player when he is on the field, not the looker room.
put good after very.