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The MLS champion traded heart again Jalen Neal to Montreal on Monday for $650,000 typically allocation cash. It’s the second important commerce the crew has made a month in the past, following the December transfer that ship midfielder Gastón Brugman, probably the most helpful participant of the championship recreation, to Nashville.

However the newest commerce comes as a shock given Neal’s age — he’s 21 — and his club-friendly wage, which paid him $178,625 final season, his second with the crew. Hours after information of the commerce was leaked, Neal was known as as much as the nationwide crew for its January coaching camp.

The Galaxy can even obtain a global roster spot within the deal and can retain a sell-on share of any switch price if Neal is offered to a different membership.

The  to commerce wage to get below the MLS payroll cap of $5.95 million in 2025 after two gamers, ahead Dejan Joveljic and winger Gabriel Pec, aged out of contracts that took simply restricted hits in opposition to the cap. Nonetheless Monday’s commerce leaves the Galaxy with simply two heart backs below contract in Emiro Garcés and Eriq Zavaleta. The crew stated it stays in negotiations with heart again Maya Yoshida, the Galaxy captain whose contract expired final month. The crew has additionally been linked to Ecuadorian heart again Diogo Bagüí, 19, and Dane Mathias Jorgensen. A cope with Jorgensen is alleged to be close to, folks with data of negotiations not licensed to debate it publicly informed The Instances.

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Neal, a local of Lakewood, joined the Galaxy academy in 2016 earlier than making his MLS debut in 2023, when he made 14 begins. He additionally began 14 occasions final seasons and made 34 appearances total regardless of lacking 11 months with a sports activities hernia and adductor accidents that required a number of surgical procedures.

On the worldwide degree, he has made six appearances for the senior nationwide crew. Neal was additionally named the Galaxy’s humanitarian of the yr the final two seasons in recognition of his group work.

“Jalen exemplifies what it means to be a Galaxy academy graduate, each as an expert and as an individual,” basic supervisor Will Kuntz stated in a press release. “His development from the academy, to Galaxy II, to debuting with the nationwide crew to being on the sector for the ultimate whistle of the MLS Cup remaining speaks volumes to the potential of the Galaxy’s skilled growth pathway.

“However Jalen’s devotion to his local people and lively engagement in service at such a younger age is a fair larger testomony to the particular character and human being that he’s. We’re indescribably pleased with every part that Jalen has accomplished for the Galaxy.”

This story initially appeared in .