The news conference announcing the move was perfunctory since the move was widely anticipated anyway.

Everyone thanked everyone else.

And coach Bruce Arena told Omar “welcome” and thanked former DP David Beckham for making the designation possible when he retired and vacated the DP slot.

Arena observed that the unspecified pay raise Gonzalez will receive will reward him “accordingly” for his level of play on the back four.

“When we drafted him in 2009, we thought he’d be a good player in this league,” Arena said. “This signing today is significant for all American players. It gives them something to shoot for … This is what our young kids are going to aspire to.”

Gonzalez, 24, is the first American defender named a DP.

“It’s really an honor to be named the third DP here at the Galaxy,” he said.

Reporter Phil Collin has the full story.

Gonzalez by the numbers:

• 136 — Number of Galaxy games he’s appeared in.
• 12 — Number of U.S. caps he has collected (all but two of those appearances came this year).
• Eight– Number of MLS goals he’s scored.
• Three — Number of times the 2009 MLS Rookie of the year and 2011 Defender of the year has been named to the MLS All-Star team.

The Galaxy will play Real Salt Lake Saturday in Carson.

Gonzalez is the tall guy in the middle of the back line in case you were wondering (I kid).