Los Angeles FC's shrewd transfer moves could make it a contender for MLS trophies

Bringing in proven MLS quantity Mathieu Choiniere to boost its midfield

Choiniere, a celebrated Canada international, has a long, successful history with MLS. He came up through the CF Montreal system and spent nearly seven seasons with the club, adding an icy calm to its midfield even during periods of immense internal upheaval. Eventually, the behind-the-scenes drama in Montreal got to be too much for Choiniere, and he moved to Swiss club Grasshoppers to forge a new chapter.

Grasshoppers, though, has a close relationship with LAFC, and the two clubs soon realized that Choiniere could do more in California than he could in Switzerland. His LAFC arrival means the club is now stacked with central midfielders. It can call on him, Timothy Tillman or Mark Delgado in the middle of the park. No other team in MLS has the same midfield depth.

Spending big on an eye-catching attacker

LAFC still has two big roster holes to fill: a backup for injured central defender Aaron Long and a reliable attacker to replace the departed Olivier Giroud. Long's replacement could come from anywhere, but Giroud's replacement must be someone special: a marketable player who has a strong pedigree.

If early reports out of Los Angeles are correct, then LAFC is swinging big for that big name. It has opened conversations with two legendary players: Thomas Müller, a Bayern Munich lifer with a World Cup on his resume, and Son Heung-Min, the lovable South Korean attacker who led Spurs to its first major trophy in years in the 2025 Europa League final. Both are ready for new opportunities; both are beloved, highly marketable players with legions of fans in the U.S. LAFC almost certainly can't sign both, but ending up with either would be a coup.

LAFC will return to MLS action on Friday (July 25) at home against the Portland Timbers.