LOS ANGELES — Former World Cup champion Hugo Lloris turned the most recent 35-year-old-plus participant to affix Major League Soccer when the goalkeeper agreed to a one-year contract with Los Angeles FC and left Tottenham after 11 1/2 seasons.

LA introduced the deal Saturday and mentioned the settlement with the 37-year-old included choices for 2025 and 2026, although it didn't say whether or not the choices belong to the staff or the participant.

Lloris, who has made a French-record 145 worldwide appearances, joins a league that since final summer season has added Miami’s Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez (each 36) and Sergio Busquets (35).

Lloris received the 2018 World Cup with France and was Tottenham’s first-choice goalkeeper from 2012-13, when he took over from Brad Friedel, by way of final season. Lloris made his final look on April 23 at Newcastle, the place he allowed 5 targets within the first 21 minutes and was changed by Fraser Forster firstly of the second half. The staff mentioned on May 5 that Lloris was lacking the remainder of the season due to a thigh damage.

Guglielmo Vicario has been Spurs’ starter this season.

Lloris‘ acquisition by LAFC was a somewhat surprising decision for the club, which won its first MLS Cup championship in 2022 and got all the way back to the MLS Cup Final earlier this month, losing 2-1 to Columbus. LAFC’s major goalkeepers for these two seasons had been MLS Cup heroes Maxime Crépeau and John McCarthy, however each are free brokers.

Crépeau famously broke his leg whereas making a doubtlessly game-saving problem within the 2022 Cup Final, and McCarthy finally received the sport’s MVP trophy after changing him and making two saves within the championship-deciding shootout. McCarthy, who took over because the starter this season till Crépeau returned from his damage, already introduced his departure from LAFC this week amid studies he plans to affix the rival LA Galaxy.

“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner. We are incredibly excited that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his illustrious career,” LAFC normal supervisor John Thorrington mentioned in an announcement. “He brings unprecedented leadership experience at the highest levels of football.”

LAFC initially constructed its successful roster with high-value signings from elsewhere within the Americas, however the 6-year-old membership now has added older European stars Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini and Lloris up to now two years. Bale retired earlier than the 2023 season, and Chiellini introduced his retirement three weeks in the past.

Lloris performed for Nice (2005-08) and Lyon (2008-13) earlier than becoming a member of Spurs. He appeared in 4 World Cups, and his 20 World Cup matches are a file amongst goalkeepers.

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