The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today the signing of defender Jordan Harvey, the first free agent in Club history.
A Southern California native, Harvey, 33, joins LAFC after 13 MLS seasons with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids. Last season with Vancouver, Harvey saw action in 28 matches (all starts), notching one goal and one assist in 2,509 minutes. The 2016 Whitecaps FC Player of the year, he leaves Vancouver as the team’s all-time leader in MLS regular season starts, appearances and minutes played.
“Jordan is a solid, reliable defender with so much experience in our league,” said LAFC Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager John Thorrington. “I have seen first-hand the strong veteran presence he will bring to our Club as he returns to Southern California.”
Born and raised in Orange County, Harvey starred at UCLA from 2002-2005 as a member of the first Bruins class in school history to win four-straight Pac-10 titles, in addition to winning the NCAA College Cup in 2002. As a senior in 2005, Harvey was selected to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Season Second Team and earned All Pac-10 Second Team honors.
“Jordan has established himself in MLS, and his knowledge of the league is going to be invaluable to us as we build our club,” LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley said. “I look forward to his leadership and the stability he provides both on and off the pitch.”
Harvey has appeared in 270 career MLS regular season games (256 starts), tallying 11 goals and 15 assists. The 5-foot-11 defender was originally drafted by Colorado during the first round (ninth overall) of the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. Harvey was selected by the Philadelphia Union with the first pick of the 2008 Expansion Draft, and joined Vancouver in a trade on July 7, 2011.
Harvey wrote himself into the MLS record books when he scored the 10,000th goal in league history on June 19, 2013 against Chivas USA. His accolades include the Whitecaps FC 2013 Humanitarian of the Year Award and the 2015 Jock MacDonald Unsung Hero Award.
A stand-out at Capistrano Valley High School in his hometown of Mission Viejo, Harvey was the first player from California to win the Gatorade National High School Boys Soccer Player of the Year award when he was honored in 2001.
Harvey has represented the United States internationally at the 2003 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The LAFC roster now stands at 10 players, with Harvey joining Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi, Omar Gaber, Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Tyler Miller, Latif Blessing, Marco Ureña and Rodrigo Pacheco on the club.
TRANSACTION - Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) signs free agent defender Jordan Harvey.
