With big shoes to fill both figuratively and literally, Javier Hernandez has stepped into the Zlatan Ibrahimovic-shaped hole at LA Galaxy, moving from Sevilla to sign a three-year deal with the club that will see him become the highest paid player in MLS. During his unveiling he was decked out in the new Galaxy home shirt, giving the world the first proper look at the team's threads for the 2020 campaign.
From Mexico to Manchester to Madrid to Leverkusen to London to Sevilla and now to LA. Fair to say it’s been quite the footballing journey for Chicharito. At 31, the Mexican is set to settle in at his sixth club following the announcement that he’s signed a three year deal with LA Galaxy, worth a reported £103,000 a week. The move will also put Mexico’s all-time leading scorer in direct competition with his international teammate, Carlos Vela, who is the current talisman of Galaxy’s fiercest rivals, LAFC. It's a mouth-watering prospect and on that adds an extra dimension to El-Trafico in May.
Hernandez joins LA Galaxy as a direct replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who left the club at the expiration of his contract last season, having racked up 53 goals and 15 assists for them in 58 appearances. It’s a big act to follow, but with the huge Mexican support in the city, the appeal of his signing should match that of Ibrahimovic both on and off the pitch.
While his scoring record at Sevilla and West Ham wasn't up to his usual high standards, Chicharito is a natural finisher who should have all of the qualities needed to thrive in MLS.
His unveiling as a Galaxy player also provided another point of interest, with Hernandez decked out in the new LA Galaxy 2020/21 home jersey. Reports were that all MLS jerseys were to be revealed in unison at a special event hosted by adidas at New York Fashion Week on 5 February, but either Galaxy didn't get that memo or they’ve jumped the gun somewhat. But we’re glad they have, with the reveal showing off a stunning new design that sees silver accents adorning the white base, most notably through that sublime Three Stripes execution across the right shoulder. Is this set to be a uniform addition across all MLS team jerseys? Guess we’ll have to wait until 5 February to find out, but it’s certainly got our attention…
Will Chicharito be able to step up and replace Ibrahimovic? Time will tell, with the Galaxy's 2020 MLS campaign set to get underway on 29 February away against Houston Dynamo.
