No designated player at first
©IMAGO
Marco Reus is starting his new adventure in Major League Soccer. The 35-year-old’s move to Los Angeles Galaxy is complete. The attacking midfielder signed with the Californians until December 2026. Reus joins on a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired after twelve years.
The career of Marco Reus – Uncrowned BVB legend
In LA, Reus is not a Designated Player initially. Instead, he will be given a Targeted Allocation Money deal, which allows him to earn the maximum amount under the salary cap. However, this contract could be restructured at a later date if a Designated Player – currently Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec – leaves Galaxy or if the MLS creates an additional DP slot next year. In any case, the initial contract will be less than the almost €4.6 million that Charlotte FC offered Reus.
Charlotte even had the right to sign Reus. But even though the club offered more money, the right-footer made it clear early on that the only MLS club he was interested in was LA Galaxy. Against this backdrop, Charlotte was forced to sell Reus’ rights to LA for around 365,000 euros – a record amount.
Reus reportedly also had offers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Europe, but he set his sights on Galaxy early on because he was said to be fascinated by David Beckham’s legacy. The current co-owner of Inter Miami played 124 games for Los Angeles from 2007 to 2013, with interruptions. Greats such as Zlatan Ibrahimović and Steven Gerrard also once played for the club.
Galaxy coach Vanney praises Reus – Becomes third German in club history
LA coach Greg Vanney spoke highly of Reus, who will be the third German in Galaxy’s history: “We are delighted to welcome Marco to the team. He is a proven winner and leader whose talent and vision for the game will integrate seamlessly into the team as we prepare for the league’s restart and run into the playoffs.” Managing director Will Kuntz described Reus as a “world-class player.” The fact that he is joining LA Galaxy is “testament to the project we are continuing to build at the club.”
Reus left BVB a few weeks ago as a club icon. The former captain played 429 games for the Black and Yellows, scoring 170 goals and providing 131 assists. He won the DFB Cup twice with Dortmund. However, the exceptional player was often plagued by injuries. Reus missed the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the DFB team triumphed, due to a torn syndesmosis ligament.
