San Diego FC Makes Its First MLS Signing Splash, Targeting a LAFC Midfielder
San Diego FC, the city’s newly launched Major League Soccer franchise, is reportedly in advanced talks to sign 26-year-old central midfielder Carlos Vela Jr. from LAFC — a move that would immediately raise the team’s profile heading into its inaugural season.
The club, which begins MLS play in 2026, has been building its roster through a combination of domestic signings and international loans. A deal for Vela Jr. — son of the legendary LAFC striker Carlos Vela — would be the biggest acquisition yet and a direct statement of intent in the fierce San Diego–Los Angeles rivalry.
Club sporting director Diego Campos declined to confirm the deal on Monday but said the team was “close to finalizing several key signings” ahead of preseason training, which begins June 15 at Snapdragon Stadium.