El Tree sends Fagúndez to LA Galaxy
In a major move Tuesday afternoon, Austin FC traded midfielder Diego Fagúndez to the Los Angeles Galaxy for midfielder Memo Rodríguez and $900,000 of general allocation money, a third of which is for this season.
Fagúndez, 28, had been with El Tree since its inaugural season in 2021 after spending the first 10 years of his career with New England. He scored the first goal in Austin FC history on April 24, 2021 in a 3-1 win at Colorado, and a year ago he played a crucial part in the team finishing second in the Western Conference and advancing to the West final in the playoffs with six goals and 13 assists.
In 19 appearances in league play this season, Fagúndez has two goals and two assists.
He missed several weeks earlier in the year with a groin injury.
Fagúndez finishes his time with Austin FC after playing in 95 overall matches for the squad, totaling 17 goals and 23 assists. He’s currently Austin FC’s alltime leader in assists.
“He will forever be an important part of the team’s history and we wish him all the best in the future,” Austin FC sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said of Fagúndez.
Rodríguez, 27, spent the first five years of his career in Houston before signing with the Galaxy this offseason.
He’s made 16 appearances across three competitions this season, recording three goals and an assist.
In six years with the Dynamo, Rodríguez had 17 goals with 23 assists.
“We are happy to have Memo return to his home state of Texas to join Austin FC,” Borrell said. “He is a talented midfielder who is going to help the team and knows the league well, and we wish him and his family a warm welcome to the community here in Austin.”