The LA Galaxy acquired former Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, 33, in a trade with FC Dallas on Tuesday. (Michael Owen Baker/Daily News, File)
The LA Galaxy announced the acquisition of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy on Tuesday, through a trade with FC Dallas for two picks in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
The Galaxy sent their natural second and third round picks to Dallas in exchange for the 33-year-old goalkeeper in an effort to answer one of the club’s pressing offseason questions. Kennedy, a Fullerton, Calif., native who attended El Dorado High in Placentia and UC Santa Barbara, started 16 games for FC Dallas in 2015 after coming to the club from the now-defunct Chivas USA, but lost his starting role after a knee injury and the emergence of 20-year-old Jesse Gonzalez.
Couldn’t be more excited to be coming home and joining the @LAGalaxy, looking forward to the journey ahead. Lets Gooo!!!!!!
— Dan Kennedy (@1DanKennedy) December 15, 2015
“Dan is a very good player and proven goalkeeper in our League,” LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said in a statement. “He will be a strong addition to our team both on and off the field. We look forward to him joining our roster ahead of the upcoming season.” Kennedy joins the Brian Rowe as the Galaxy’s only goalkeepers on the team’s current roster. Rowe, 27, started seven games last season and allowed nine goals in three wins, three losses and one tie. After the midseason departure of Jaime Penedo, the Galaxy brought in Donovan Ricketts to finish the season over Rowe. The team declined contract options on Rickets, along with fellow goalkeepers Andrew Wolverton and Brian Perk earlier in the offseason. Contract terms were not disclosed, per league and club policy. According to documents from the MLS Players Union, Kennedy made $233,000 in 2015, the fourth-highest salary on FC Dallas’s payroll. Kennedy is Chivas USA’s all-time leader in saves (451), shutouts (28), along with games played (144), games started (142) and minutes played (12,764).
The #LAGalaxy‘s new goalkeeper: https://t.co/RfrE5iKpOQ https://t.co/yCC4joAxHN — LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) December 15, 2015
Other offseason moves
According to the LA Times, the Galaxy are also hopeful to keep defender Omar Gonzalez and forward Alan Gordan. The Galaxy intend to restructure Gonzalez’s contract and to use the team’s newly approved $800,000 in targeted allocation money to help buy down the contract, but could still need more. Gordon is currently out of contract.
