MLS Los Angeles FC

LAFC Signs Defender Sergi Palencia

Published on February 2, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Los Angeles FC News Release


Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today that the Club has signed defender Sergi Palencia to a contract through 2024 with a club option in 2025. Palencia will be added to LAFC's roster pending receipt of International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.

Palencia, 26, joins LAFC after playing the 2022-2023 season with French Ligue 2 side AS Saint-Étienne, where he made nine appearances (seven starts) and registered one assist. The Badalona, Spain native arrived in Saint-Étienne on a permanent transfer from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2019, where he made nine appearances, including six French Ligue 1 appearances and one Europa League appearance with current LAFC teammate Denis Bouanga.

"Palencia is a talented defender with experience in some of the top leagues in Europe," LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington said. "He is a great fit to what we are building at LAFC, and we are excited to welcome him to Los Angeles."

A product of FC Barcelona's famed La Masia Youth Academy, like current LAFC teammate and MLS All-Star Ilie Sanchez, Palencia first joined Barça in 2007 at 11-years old and proceeded to make a total of 103 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona B from 2015-2019, scoring two goals and registering eight assists. Palencia won the U-19 UEFA Youth League Championship with Barcelona U-19 in 2013-14.

In 2018 Palencia joined Barcelona's senior team and was then loaned to French Ligue 1 side FC Girondins Bordeaux, making his first division debut vs. Toulouse on Aug. 18, 2018. Overall, he made 31 appearances and registered three assists across all competitions for Bordeaux, including playing in three Europa League contests.

He was loaned from Saint-Étienne to CD Leganés of the Spanish Second Division in 2020, and proceeded to make 74 appearances across all competitions before returning to Saint-Étienne in 2022.

The defender made his debut for Spain's U-21 National Team in 2018 in a UEFA U-21 Champions League qualifying match. He has two international caps for Spain's U-21 squad.

TRANSACTION: Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) signs defender Sergi Palencia from AS Saint-Étienne (French Ligue 2) to a contract through 2024 with a club option in 2025.

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