LA Galaxy 2022 MLS Season Preview: Key players and Prediction

Major League Soccer (MLS) will have the most teams in its history with a total of 28 clubs kicking off the season on February 26 and ending on November 5 with the MLS Cup Final, just in time for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

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Among them is the LA Galaxy, one of the founding teams of this league, which has five championships throughout its history.

Greg Vanney's team did not qualify for the 2021 season playoffs by finishing in eighth place, tying their last game of the season, and letting Real Salt Lake take their spot.

This season, the team will be looking to improve in order to qualify for the playoffs and fight for the title, something they have not done in recent years. With great players in the squad like Chicharito or Douglas Costa, the Californian team has many arguments to go far this season.

Let's review how LA Galaxy arrives for the 2022 MLS season

LA Galaxy transfer activity

PLAYERS IN

D - Kelvin Leerdam (1/6/22 - signed as free agent)

M - Raheem Edwards (1/7/22 - signed as free agent)

GK - Richard Sanchez (1/18/22 - signing)

M - Victor Vázquez (1/19/22 - signing)

M - Mark Delgado (1/21/22 - trade from LA Galaxy)

F - Douglas Costa (2/10/22 - loan from Gremio)

PLAYERS OUT

GK - Eric Lopez (11/29/21 - option declined)

D - Niko Hämäläinen (11/29/21 - loan expired)

GK - Justin vom Steeg (11/29/21 - contract expired)

M - Jonathan dos Santos (11/29/21 - contract expired)

F - Kai Koreniuk (11/29/21 - option declined)

F - Augustine Williams (11/29/21 - option declined)

D - Daniel Acosta (11/29/21 - option declined)

D - Oniel Fisher (11/29/21 - option declined)

F - Ethan Zubak (12/12/21 - traded to Nashville SC)

D - Daniel Steres (12/12/21 - traded to Houston Dynamo FC)

M - Sebastian Lletget (12/16/21 - traded to New England Revolution)

LA Galaxy key players

Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández

The 33-year-old Mexican will enter his third season with the Los Angeles Galaxy. After having a discreet first season due to injuries, last season he improved a lot and scored 17 times for the team coached by Greg Vanney, but it was not enough to qualify them.

This season will be the challenge for Chicharito to justify why he is a Designated Player and lead the LA Galaxy to the postseason.

Kévin Cabral

The 22-year-old French player scored five goals and provided two assists last season. Cabral, who arrived from Ligue 2 side Valenciennes, has been given a Designated Young Player contract and is projected to be the next star of the California team. Cabral's attacking qualities and ability to score goals will give the LA Galaxy many advantages this season as he will be alongside Mexico's Javier Hernandez.

Douglas Costa

The signing of the experienced Brazilian player has generated high expectations, as the former Bayern Munich and Juventus player will be a magnificent addition to the LA Galaxy squad's attacking power. 

Although he comes from a season of failure with Gremio, the Brazilian team that was relegated to the second division, Douglas will have revenge to show why LA Galaxy has bet on this skilled player.

LA Galaxy 2022 season prediction

Last season the Californian team received coach Greg Vanney, so the players had to adapt to the coach's style of play; however, now they have been working with him for some time and they know what he wants, so this season seems to be the consolidation of the team.

Although there were important departures such as that of Sebastián Lletglet, the team was reinforced with big names such as Douglas Costa and Victor Vásquez, as well as established players such as Mexicans Julián Araujo and Javier Hernández and the Frenchman Kévin Cabral.

MLS 2022 looks to be a good year for the LA Galaxy due to their consolidation with Greg Vanney and their big names on the team.

Prediction: 3rd in the Western Conference

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