Major League Soccer: LA Galaxy to form second pro club LA Galaxy II in American 3^rd division

The LA Galaxy will become the first Major League Soccer (MLS, USA) club to form their own United Soccer Leagues Professional Division (USL Pro, American 3^rd division) club, they announced on 29/01/2014. The Los Angeles-based franchise have formed the LA Galaxy II, which will be owned and operated within the club’s player development structure and begin competition in the USL Pro league in the upcoming 2014 season.

Lacking enough resources for an effective reserve league, and needing to fill the gap between the club academies and the first team, the MLS formalised a structured loan agreement with the American third division USL Pro league in 2013. Most MLS clubs have formed partnerships with existing USL Pro clubs, and send several players on loan to the lower division sides per year.

“The LA Galaxy are taking a monumental step for player development in North America,” said Chris Klein, the LA Galaxy president. “The creation of LA Galaxy II, through USL Pro, provides the Galaxy with a fully realised player development program starting with the Under-12 Academy teams through the LA…