Chivas USA's Bornstein to join Mexico's Tigres in January

"Whaddya mean you got a transfer out of MLS before me?" Landon Donovan appears to be saying to South of the Border-bound U.S. teammate Jonny Bornstein during a game at the World Cup. Or not (AP Photo).

Club captain Jonathan Bornstein, a Los Alamitos resident who has a Mexican mother so won't be considered a foreign player under Mexican league rules, will join UANL Tigres after his contract expires at year's end. He was named to the MLS All-Star Team today for a fourth consecutive year.

"Jonathan has been a wonderful member of the Chivas USA family since coming to the team in 2006, helping the club both on and off the field," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter. "We know he will continue to bring his passion to every match for the rest of 2010, and while we will be very disappointed not to have his presence at the club next season, we're thrilled for the opportunities that he has ahead of him. We are pleased to have helped shape his career, and also proud of the important role he has played in the history of Chivas USA."

The UCLA product appeared twice for the U.S. at the World Cup.

"First and foremost, I remain focused on finishing this season with Chivas USA," Bornstein said. "There is a lot we can accomplish, from SuperLiga this week to the Open Cup semifinals in September, getting into the playoffs and making a run at MLS Cup. When the season ends, I'm excited to join Tigres and ready for all the changes that will come with the move. It will be a big moment for me and I'm looking forward to it."

From the Chivas USA press release:

Torrance-born Jonathan Rey Bornstein joined Chivas USA as the team's fourth round pick (37th overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, and earned Rookie of the Year honors in his first season, leading all rookies in scoring with six goals and four assists. An MLS All-Star from 2007-2010, Bornstein has played a total of 112 regular-season games (110 starts) in his MLS career, with nine goals and nine assists. With the U.S. National Team, the Los Alamitos native scored a goal in his debut match against Denmark on January 20, 2007, and has played a total of 34 games with the squad, scoring twice.

Bornstein will face U.S. teammates Herculez Gomez and Jose Torres of Pachuca in a SuperLiga game at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Home Depot Center.

Having missed out on Mexicans like Nery Castillo and Guadalajara striker Omar Bravo (both coming to MLS, but not with Chivas USA) and seeing star midfielder Sacha Kljestan move to Anderlecht in recent weeks, Goats fans are no doubt wondering whether the money-conscious club is perhaps better at seeing relatively big-name players leave Southern California than come.

MLS All-Star roster

goalkeepers - Donovan Ricketts (Galaxy), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

defenders - Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire), Kevin Alston (New England Revolution)

midfielders - Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire), Javier Morales (Real Salt Lake), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), Sebastian LeToux (Philadelphia Union), David Ferreira (FC Dallas), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids)

forwards - Edson Buddle (Galaxy), Landon Donovan (Galaxy), Juan Pablo Angel (New York Red Bulls), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Jaime Moreno (D.C. United)