The Galaxy have continued to stock up on young attacking talent with local ties, today swapping a 2014 draft pick for 22-year-old forward Chandler Hoffman of the Philadelphia Union.
“Chandler and I had an honest conversation about where he stood and we decided that this trade gives him an opportunity that he would not have had within our team this season,” said Philadelphia Union Team Manager John Hackworth. “Our organization thinks very highly of Chandler, both on and off the field, and we wish him the best of luck as he continues to develop in his career.”
Chandler endured an up and down rookie year in 2012 starting two of seven games last season for the Union and scoring a game winning goal against Schalke 04 of the German Bundesliga. He also rattled in four goals in a reserve league game.
Very excited/thankful for the opportunity to return to LA and join the @lagalaxy can’t wait to get to work. Big thanks to @richardmotzkin
— Chandler Hoffman (@chandala) March 1, 2013
He had 18 goals and six assists as a senior at UCLA making him the Pac-12 leading scorer and one of the nation’s top goal scorers at the college level.
Hoffman trained with the Galaxy in 2010 and is scheduled to arrive in Southern California tonight. He will train with the team Saturday ahead of Sunday’s MLS opener against the Chicago Fire in Carson.
He is the fourth Bruin on the Galaxy roster — goalkeepers Brian Perk and Brian Rowe and midfielder Michael Stephens are the others. And he joins local and young attacking options Jose Villarreal (Inglewood), Jack McBean (Newport Beach) and Gyasi Zardes (Hawthorne) on the squad.
