MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Published on March 23, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES - The LA Galaxy announced today that forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joined the club. The Swedish striker joins the five-time MLS Cup champions after a decorated career internationally and throughout Europe, where he has starred for Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and his native Sweden while accumulating over 450 goals for club and country.

Ibrahimovic was added to the LA Galaxy roster using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), will occupy an International roster spot and will officially join the roster pending receipt of a P1 Visa and ITC. For all MLS roster rules and regulations, click here.

"Coming to play in the United States, it is only fitting for me to join the most successful team in Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy," said Ibrahimovic. "I am excited to join a club with a winning legacy that has embodied soccer in Los Angeles for over 20 years. I would like to thank everyone at the club for making it possible to play for the LA Galaxy. I am looking forward to joining my teammates, playing at StubHub Center in front of our fans and helping our team compete this season."

Throughout his career, Ibrahimovic has won 11 league titles in four separate countries while representing Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Ajax Amsterdam, AC Milan and Inter Milan in addition to leading his clubs to numerous other major championships, including the UEFA Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Italian Super Cup (3x), French League Cup (3x), French Super Cup (3x), a Dutch Super Cup and Dutch Cup, among others. Overall, Ibrahimovic has scored 421 goals for club, 62 goals for the Sweden National Team and tallied 159 assists in 730 club games.

"Adding one of the finest goal scorers in this sport's history to our roster will tremendously help our club in the hunt for a sixth MLS Cup," said LA Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "As one of the winningest players of all time, we believe he'll have a very positive impact on our team. We are confident that Zlatan can be one of the most dangerous strikers in our league and we are excited to integrate him into our club."

Ibrahimovic began his career with his hometown club, Malmö FF of Sweden, making his professional debut in 1999 at the age of 17. After helping Malmö earn promotion to the Swedish first division the following season, he was signed by Ajax for a club record transfer fee. In three campaigns with Ajax, Ibrahimovic garnered further European recognition as he helped the Dutch side to two Eredivisie titles while shining in two UEFA Champions League campaigns. Sold to Juventus in August 2004, Ibrahimovic scored 16 goals in his first season with the Bianconeri. The following year, Ibrahimovic earned his first of 11 consecutive Guldbollen Awards, an annual prize recognizing Sweden's best male soccer player.

"The LA Galaxy are a club that have always attracted the biggest names and the most talented players in the world," said AEG President and CEO Dan Beckerman. "Zlatan's signing is evidence of AEG's and LA Galaxy's persistent, global pursuit of top athletes that lift the profile of our club, our league and our sport in this country. As the most successful club in Major League Soccer history, the LA Galaxy are the perfect fit for one of the most decorated soccer players in the sport's history."

Ibrahimovic made the move to FC Internazionale in 2006 and began his successful stint at the club by being named Serie A Player of the Year in his first season. In three seasons, he totaled 66 goals in 117 appearances and capped his three-year stay at Inter with 25 goals to claim Italy's 2008-09 scoring title. He lifted the league title in each year with Inter. Ibrahimovic made the move to Barcelona in 2009, scoring 22 goals across all competitions and collecting a La Liga title in his one season there. He returned to Italy in August 2010 with AC Milan, reinstating himself as one of the league's most dominant scorers. He helped Milan to the Serie A title in his first year and followed suit with another Italian scoring title in the 2011-12 campaign.

"Signing Zlatan is a testament to the LA Galaxy brand and our incomparable success in MLS since 1996," said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. "In addition to our rich history, we continue to invest in building a future that will see us continue to reach new achievements. We aggressively pursued Zlatan and are extremely pleased to add him to our team."

In what would be his longest stay with a European side, Ibrahimovic made the move to France in 2012, signing with Paris Saint-Germain in July of that year. Ibrahimovic lifted the club to European prominence in his time there, winning the league title in each of his four seasons in Paris in addition to nine other major trophies. He won the Ligue 1 scoring title in three of his four seasons with PSG, highlighted by his final campaign with the club, in which he scored 38 goals in 31 league appearances. In July 2016, Ibrahimovic was signed by English giants Manchester United, scoring 17 goals in 28 league appearances during the 2016-17 campaign and helping the team to a UEFA Europa League Championship just last year.

In 2001, Ibrahimovic debuted with the Swedish National Team at the age of 19 and has since earned recognition as the best soccer player in the country's history. An 11-time Guldbollen winner, Ibrahimovic recorded 62 goals in 114 appearances for his country. He appeared for Sweden in multiple World Cups (2002, 2006) and UEFA European Championships (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). In 2013, Ibrahimovic won FIFA's Puskás Award. Ibrahimovic retired from international soccer as the nation's all-time leading goalscorer following Sweden's exit in the 2016 UEFA European Championships.

The LA Galaxy are 1-1-0 through their first two matches of the 2018 MLS Regular Season. The Galaxy are in action this weekend, taking on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 24 at BC Place (Spectrum SportsNet).

LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2018 Major League Soccer season are now available. Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/since96 to secure their 2018 LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships, beginning as low as just $17 per match. In addition to visiting www.lagalaxy.com/since96, fans can secure 2018 Season Ticket Memberships at StubHub Center by visiting the Galaxy booth atop Section 104 at every LA Galaxy home game. Fans can also call 1.877.3GALAXY (342.5299) and press 2 when prompted to secure Season Ticket Memberships.

Transaction: LA Galaxy sign Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM)

PLAYER BIO

Name: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Position: Forward

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 209 lbs.

Born: 10/03/1981

Age: 36

Last Club: Manchester United (England)

Birthplace: Malmö, Sweden

Nationality: Sweden

SEASONS, AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS

ZLATAN FOR CLUB

MALMO FF (1999-2001)

1999: 1 Allsvenskan league goal

2000-01: 12 Superettan league goals

2001-02: 3 Allsvenskan league goals

AJAX (2001-2004)

2001-02: 21 league appearances, 6 league goals, 2 UCL appearances, 2 UEFA Cup appearances, 2 UEFA Cup goals, 1 Dutch Cup goal

2002-03: 25 league appearances, 13 league goals, 13 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 3 Dutch Cup goals

2003-04: 22 league appearances, 13 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 2 UCL goals

2004-05: 3 league appearances, 3 league goals

Totals (across all competitions): 110 appearances, 48 goals

2x Eredivisie League Champion (2001-02, 2003-04)

Dutch Super Cup Winner (2002)

KNVB Cup: 2001-02

JUVENTUS (2004-2006)

2004-05: 35 league appearances, 16 league goals, 10 UCL appearances

2005-06: 34 league appearances, 7 league goals, 9 UCL appearances, 3 UCL goals

Totals (across all competitions): 92 appearances, 26 goals

2x Serie A Champion (2004-05, 2005-06, both titles later vacated from Juventus)

FC INTERNAZIONALE (2006-2009)

2006-07: 30 league appearances, 15 league goals, 7 UCL appearances

2007-08: 22 league appearances, 17 league goals, 7 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals

2008-09: 35 league appearances, 25 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 1 UCL goal, 3 Coppa Italia appearances, 3 Coppa Italia goals

Totals (across all competitions): 117 appearances, 66 goals

3x Serie A Champion (2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09)

Serie A Player of the Year (2006-07)

2x Supercoppa Italiana Champion (2006, 2008)

Serie A Top Scorer (2008/09)

FC BARCELONA (2009-2010)

2009-10: 29 league appearances, 16 league goals, 10 UCL appearances, 4 UCL goals, 1 Copa del Rey goal, 1 Supercopa de España goal

Totals: (across all competitions): 46 appearances, 22 goals

La Liga Champion (2009-10)

Supercopa de España Winner (2009, 2010)

FIFA Club World Cup Winner (2010)

UEFA Super Cup Winner (2009-10)

AC MILAN (2010-2012)

2010-11: 29 league appearances, 14 league goals, 7 UCL appearances, 4 UCL goals, 3 Coppa Italia goals

2011-12: 32 league appearances, 28 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 1 Coppa Italia goal, 1 Supercoppa Italiana goal

Totals: 85 appearances, 56 goals

Serie A Champion (2010-11)

Supercoppa Italiana Champion (2011)

Serie A Top Scorer (2011-12)

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (2012-2016)

2012-13: 34 league appearances, 30 league goals, 9 UCL appearances, 3 UCL goals, 2 Coupe de France goal

2013-14: 33 league appearances, 26 league goals, 8 UCL appearances, 10 UCL goals, 3 Coupe de France goals, 2 Coupe de la Ligue goals

2014-15: 24 league appearances, 19 league goals, 6 UCL appearances, 2 UCL goals, 4 Coupe de France goals, 3 Coupe de la Ligue goals, 2 Trophée des Champions goals

2015-16: 31 league appearances, 38 league goals, 10 UCL appearances, 5 UCL goals, 7 Coupe de France goals

Totals: 180 appearances, 156 goals

4x Ligue 1 Champion (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)

2x Coupe de France Champion (2014-15, 2015-16)

3x Coupe de la Ligue Winner (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16)

3x Trophée des Champions Winner (2013, 2014, 2015)

3x Ligue 1 Top Scorer (2012/13, 2013/14, 2015-16)

MANCHESTER UNITED (2016-2018)

2016-17: 28 league appearances, 17 league goals, 11 Europa League appearances, 5 Europa League goals, 1 FA Cup goal, 4 EFL Cup goals, 1 Community Shield goal

2017-18: 5 league appearances, 1 UCL appearance, 1 EFL Cup goal

Totals: 53 appearances, 29 goals

Europa League Winner (2016-17)

EFL Cup Winner (2017)

FA Community Shield Winner (2017)

ZLATAN FOR COUNTRY

SWEDEN (2001-2016)

62 goals, 114 appearances

Sweden's all-time leading goalscorer

World Cups: 2002, 2006

UEFA European Championships: 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016

11x Guldbollen Award Winner (2005-2016)

2013 FIFA Puskás Award Winner

Debuted for Sweden National Team in January 2001

LEAGUE TITLES

SPAIN - LA LIGA (1)

2009-10 - FC Barcelona

ITALY - SERIE A (4)

2006-07 - FC Internazionale

2007-08 - FC Internazionale

2008-09 - FC Internazionale

2010-11 - AC Milan

FRANCE - LIGUE 1 (4)

2012-13 - Paris Saint-Germain

2013-14 - Paris Saint-Germain

2014-15 - Paris Saint-Germain

2015-16 - Paris Saint-Germain

NETHERLANDS - EREDIVISIE (2)

2003-04 - Ajax Amsterdam

2001-02 - Ajax Amsterdam

ADDITIONAL TITLES

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE (1)

2016-17 - Manchester United

EFL CUP (1)

2017 - Manchester United

FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP (1)

2010 - FC Barcelona

UEFA SUPER CUP (1)

2009-10 - FC Barcelona

SPANISH SUPER CUP (2)

2009 - FC Barcelona

2010 - FC Barcelona

ITALIAN SUPER CUP (3)

2011 - AC Milan

2008 - FC Internazionale

2006 - FC Internazionale

FRENCH LEAGUE CUP (3)

2015-16 - Paris Saint-Germain

2014-15 - Paris Saint-Germain

2013-14 - Paris Saint-Germain

FRENCH CUP (2)

2015-16 - Paris Saint-Germain

2014-15 - Paris Saint-Germain

FRENCH SUPER CUP (3)

2015 - Paris Saint-Germain

2014 - Paris Saint-Germain

2013 - Paris Saint-Germain

ENGLISH SUPER CUP (1)

2017 - Manchester United

DUTCH SUPER CUP (1)

2002 - Ajax Amsterdam

DUTCH CUP (1)

2001 - Ajax Amsterdam

INDIVIDUAL ACCOLADES

FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR (14)

2016 - Sweden

2015 - Sweden

2014 - Sweden

2013 - Sweden

2012 - Italy

2012 - Sweden

2011 - Sweden

2010 - Sweden

2009 - Sweden

2009 - Italy

2008 - Italy

2008 - Sweden

2007 - Sweden

2005 - Sweden

BEST FOREIGN PLAYER (5)

2012 - AC Milan

2011 - AC Milan

2009 - FC Internazionale

2008 - FC Internazionale

2005 - Juventus

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (3)

2007-08 - FC Internazionale

2008-09 - FC Internazionale

2011-12 - AC Milan

TOP SCORER (5)

2015-16 - Paris Saint-Germain (38 goals)

2013-14 - Paris Saint-Germain (26 goals)

2012-13 - Paris Saint-Germain (30 goals)

2011-12 - AC Milan (28 goals)

2008-09 - Inter Milan (25 goals)

SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR (2)

2010 - FC Barcelona

2007 - Sweden

Total Statistics

CLUB

Total appearances: 730

Total goals: 421

Total assists: 159

COUNTRY

Total appearances: 114

Total goals: 62

OVERALL

11 league titles in 16 seasons* for 5 clubs in 4 countries

11 Super Cups

8 Cups

3 International Cups

33 total trophies

*After coming to Ajax 2001/02.

Additional Individual Accolades

FIFA Puskás Award: 2013

FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2013

UEFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014

UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2012

Serie A Top Scorer: 2009, 2012

Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012

Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011

Serie A Team of the Year: 2010-11, 2011-12

Ligue 1 Top scorer: 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16.

Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16.

Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16

UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2016-17

Guldbollen (The Golden Ball): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2106

Ã...rets Forward (Forward of the Year Sweden): 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2106, 2017

Swedish Male Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014

Jerringpriset: 2008

Golden Foot: 2012

LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2018 Major League Soccer season are now available. Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/since96 to secure their 2018 LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships, beginning as low as just $17 per match. In addition to visiting www.lagalaxy.com/since96, fans can secure 2018 Season Ticket Memberships at StubHub Center by visiting the Galaxy booth atop Section 104 at every LA Galaxy home game. Fans can also call 1.877.3GALAXY (342.5299) and press 2 when prompted to secure Season Ticket Memberships.

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