Is Major League Soccer finally starting to reward American players. Days after the Seattle Sounders made US national team star Clint Dempsey the highest paid player in MLS, the LA Galaxy made Dempsey’s US teammate Omar Gonzalez the clubs third designated player.
No financial details of the long-term deal were released by the league.
Gonzalez joins Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane as the Galaxy’s designated players, and he is the first American defender to be named a designated player.
Gonzalez was named MLS’ top defender in 2011 while the Galaxy won the league title. He returned from an injury to help Los Angeles to its second straight title last December, earning MLS Cup MVP honors.
The 24-year-old Gonzalez is a three-time All-Star and is by far the best defender in MLS.
The one person who will benefit from MLS decision to invest in American talent is Landon Donovan whose contract expires at the end of the season. If Dempsey is worth $32 million over four years, what is Donavan worth?