(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: As all faithful LAFC (Black & Gold) fans know, from El Grupo 3252, to the thousands of Season Ticket holders, to the regular “game-to-game” attendees, everything is being readied for the start of the new 2023 Major League Season (MLS) season.

And, in keeping with all of the many and assorted franchise preparations, the front office is still working at a feverish pace to prepare all of its contracted players for the full season that will last through October. The clock is ticking louder and louder with each passing day and the countdown presses on towards the “Opening Day”  on Saturday, February 25th when LAFC takes on its formidable cross-town rival, the L.A. Galaxy at the world famous Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. Kick-off will be at 6:30 pm.

Tickets are on sale now for this much-awaited moment when the fans will have their say in turning out to support our great City of Los Angeles, Pro Soccer rivals in this always Battle for the City’s bragging rights match. The big question that is starting to loom in the minds of all local fans is, what will the final attendance be?

And now as we take a good look regarding the latest Club transactions, here is another press announcement as shared by the Club’s Communications staff.

LAFC SIGNS MIDFIELDER DANIEL CRISOSTOMO AND GOALKEEPER ABRAHAM ROMERO  

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced on 1/26 that the Club has signed midfielder Daniel Crisostomo and goalkeeper Abraham Romero to one-year deals for 2023, with  Club options for 2024 and 2025.  

Crisostomo, 26, made 49 appearances (49 starts) for the Club’s former USL affiliate, the Las Vegas Lights from 2021-2022, scoring three goals, registering seven assists and playing 4,357 minutes.  

Crisostomo first joined LAFC on a one-year deal on Aug. 4, 2021 and made 10 appearances (five starts) in his first season. The California native made his MLS debut replacing Latif Blessing in the 81^st min. vs. Atlanta United at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Aug. 15, 2021. In 2022, he appeared in two matches for LAFC on two short-term loans from Las Vegas. 

Prior to signing with the Lights, Crisostomo made 50 appearances (24 starts) and notched one goal for Orange County SC during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. During his collegiate career Crisostomo starred at UC Irvine, starting in 54 of his 74 appearances between 2015-2018, earning multiple recognitions including 2018 including Big West Midfielder of the Year and being named to the 2018 All-Big West First Team. 

Romero, 24, is a Pasadena, CA native who spent the last four seasons in the USL where he made over 49 appearances with Las Vegas and LA Galaxy II. Romero began his USL Championship career with LA Galaxy II in 2019 and 2020, where he made 19 overall appearances. 

In 2022, Romero made 21 starts and appearances for Lights. In 2021, Romero played for Orange County SC, where he made nine appearances. Romero began his youth career playing in the famed CalSouth soccer league for Don Sheppard’s LAFC Chelsea at the age of 8 before joining LA Galaxy’s youth academy in 2012 at the age of 13.   

Romero joined Liga MX side CD Pachuca in 2016 as part of the U-20 squad then joined the first team during Copa MX 2017-18 and 2018/19 Apertura and Clausura campaigns. Romero was also available for selection for Mexico during the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. 

Internationally, Romero has represented Mexico from U-17 through the U-22 levels, making a total of 14 appearances across all levels including seven appearances in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and five appearances in the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea. Romero has dual U.S. citizenship and has also represented the U.S. at the U-15 and U-17 levels in friendly matches.