Bale set to join LAFC, but timing uncertain

John Thorrington confirmed Gareth Bale is joining Los Angeles FC. The timing of when that will happen remains a bit unsettled.

Thorrington, LAFC’s co-president and general manager, said after Sunday’s 2-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls that he is hopeful Bale can arrive stateside in the next week to 10 days once all the immigration paperwork is completed. Bale will be eligible to make his LAFC debut after the secondary transfer window opens July 7. The club’s first match after the window opens is against archrival LA Galaxy on July 8.

In eight seasons with Spanish power Real Madrid, Bale, 32, was part of five Champions League-winning sides and three Spanish league titles. The Welshman scored 97 goals between La Liga (80) and the Champions League (17) after a $106 million move from Tottenham before the 2013-14 season.

More soccer: In LAFC’s victory, Cristian Arango and Diego Palacios scored three minutes apart in the second half. MLS-leading LAFC improved to 10-3-3 with its fourth shutout of the season. New York dropped to 7-5-5. Arango scored in the 67th minute, less than three minutes after coming into the game. Arango has five goals this season and has scored in three straight MLS matches. Palacios got his first LAFC goal in the 70th minute on a breakaway. Defender Daniel Lovitz scored early, Hany Mukhtar followed with his third brace of the season and Nashville rolled to a 3-1 victory Saturday night that extended D.C. United’s league winless streak to six games.

Basketball: Courtney Vandersloot scored 18 points, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, to help the host Chicago Sky (13-5) edge the Minnesota Lynx 88-85 in the WNBA. Jessica Shepard and Kayla McBride scored 15 points each for the Lynx (5-14).