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LAFC has signed veteran Major League Soccer striker and two-time Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips. The club announced the move on Friday as the defending Supporters' Shield winners begin CONCACAF Champions League play next week. Wright-Phillips spent the past seven seasons with the New York Red Bulls, becoming the eighth-leading goalscorer overall and the top European goalscorer in league history with 108 goals in 195 MLS appearances. He won the Golden Boot as MLS' top goal-scorer in 2014 and 2016. "Bradley is one of the most prolific goalscorers in MLS history and the type of player that can be a difference-maker for us," said LAFC general manager John Thorrington. "He brings invaluable experience to the group as a proven winner in our league, and we look forward to welcoming him and his family to the club." Earlier this week, LAFC traded defender Walker Zimmerman to Nashville for a record amount of allocation money for a defender. The south London native made his pro debut with Manchester City in 2004. He will turn 35 years old next month. The Red Bulls parted ways with Wright-Phillips after he scored only two goals in 29 appearances last year. LAFC invited Wright-Phillips for a trial last month, and the club's need for a backup striker increased when Adama Diomande was sidelined into the regular season with a foot injury. MLS Most Valuable Player Carlos Vela is back as LAFC's starting forward. Wright-Phillips set the MLS record by scoring 27 goals in the 2014 season, but the mark has since been broken by three players including Vela, who scored 34 last year. LAFC visits Mexico's Club Leon on Tuesday and hosts the second leg on Feb. 27, three days before its MLS regular season opener against Inter Miami (stream all MLS out of market matches live on ESPN+). Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
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