(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) Ownership and Management staffs have been quite active and busy during this welcomed, but short mid-season break in the action. There are two new and important signings that have just been consummated and they include the recent and very fan favorited, Eddie Segura, plus the international player, Midfielder Filip Krastev arriving on loan from the Belgian Pro League. Please give a good read on the Profiles for both of these players as well as a brief description on the acquisition of the International Roster slot.
[NEXT MATCH]: LAFC will host its first match of the 2023 Leagues Cup on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at BMO Stadium at 7:30 p.m. PT. As the 2022 MLS Cup Champions, LAFC receives a bye into the single-game elimination knockout Round of 32, skipping the group stage of the tournament that kicked-off on July 21st. The Black & Gold will face the second-place team from the South 1 group, consisting of Austin FC, Mazatlan FC and FC Juarez.
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LAFC Re-Signs Defender Eddie Segura For 2024 Season, with Club Options Through ’26
“Eddie has been a top-class player and person for LAFC since his arrival in 2018,’” said LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington. “This contract renewal is deserved recognition of his professionalism and commitment to LAFC, and we are excited to have Eddie continue his career in Black & Gold.”
Segura last played for LAFC on Oct. 20, 2022, in the team’s victory over the Galaxy in the Western Conference Semifinals. The 26-year-old is recovering from a tear in his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that required two surgeries in the off-season to repair.
The Colombia native first joined LAFC at the age of 21 on an initial six-month loan period from Colombian side Atletico Huila on November 21, 2018, and then signed a permanent multi-year agreement with LAFC on July 29, 2019.
Now in his sixth season with LAFC, Segura has been an important piece of the backline, making 100 appearances (91 starts) and registering three goals and five assists across all competitions. Segura was in the midst of an LAFC record 72 consecutive regular season appearances (82 across all competitions) before being sidelined with an ACL injury on July 24, 2021. He returned from that injury on June 30, 2022, and played in 14 games (8 starts) while helping LAFC to the 2022 Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
Prior to LAFC, Segura led Atlético Huila to a fourth-place regular season finish in the 2018 Torneo Apertura while playing in every league and postseason match. In all, Segura saw action in 80 matches across all competitions for Huila, scoring two goals in 7,121 minutes. Segura spent his first four professional years with Deportivo Pereira of Colombia’s second division.
At the international level, Segura has represented Colombia’s U-23 team, registering seven appearances (six starts) in the 2020 CONMEBOL pre-Olympic qualifiers.
Black & Gold Acquire 2023 International Roster Slot
Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) has recently announced that the club has acquired a 2023 International Roster Slot from Austin FC in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2024.
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Midfielder Filip Krastev Acquired On Loan
21-Year-Old Bulgarian National Team Player To Join LAFC From Lommel SK
Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) recently announced that the Club has acquired midfielder Filip Krastev on loan from Lommel SK of the Belgian Challenger Pro League until June 2024. The loan agreement includes a permanent transfer option. Krastev will be added to the Club’s roster pending receipt of his P1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Filip is an incredibly talented midfielder whose dynamic qualities and technical ability fit well within our game model”, LAFC Co-President and GM John Thorrington said. “We are excited to welcome Filip to LAFC as he takes the next step of what I am confident will be a successful career.” Krastev, 21, joins LAFC after spending the past two years with Levski Sofia of the Bulgarian First League on loan from Lommel SK. From 2021-2023 at Levski Sofia, Krastev made 56 appearances (42 starts) and registered 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.
The Sofia, Bulgaria native has already represented his country 11 times at the senior level, making his Bulgarian National Team debut on Sept. 6, 2020. He appeared in three 2020 UEFA Euro Qualifiers and played in six 2022 UEFA Nations League matches, registering one assist. Krastev represented Bulgaria in multiple competitions from the U-16 through the U-21 levels.
Krastev began his youth career at Slavia Sofia of the Bulgarian First League, signing with the senior squad on July 1, 2018. Overall, Krastev made 49 appearances (30 starts) across all competitions for Slavia Sofia frLeague qualifiers in 2018 and 2020.
Ahead of the 2020-21 season, Krastev made a permanent transfer to Lommel, where he was loaned back to Slavia Sofia for the 2020-2021 season. The Bulgarian international was then loaned from Lommel SK to French League 2 side Troyes. In his time with Troyes he made two appearances, helping Troyes clinch promotion to French League 1 before moving on loan to SC Cambuur of the Dutch Eredivisie for the 2021-22 campaign where he made five appearances and registered one goal.
