The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today the signing of goalkeeper Phillip Ejimadu, defender Lamar Batista and forward Adrien Perez ahead of the 2019 MLS regular season campaign. Ejimadu will be added to LAFC’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Phillip, Lamar and Adrien have all impressed during preseason and are well-deserving of an opportunity with LAFC," said General Manager and EVP of Soccer Operations John Thorrington. “We’re excited to see how all three players fit into our group, and we look forward to seeing each of them develop and eventually reach their potential.”
Ejimadu, 19, joins LAFC after spending the last five years with the youth teams at Brazilian side Nacional Atlético Clube. Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Ejimadu earned his first international call-up during the U-20 U.S. men’s national team’s 12-day international training camp in Spain in March 2018.
Batista, 20, played the past two seasons with Portland Timbers 2 of the USL. Last year, he helped Timbers 2 reach the postseason after tallying one goal and one assist in 22 appearances. In 2017, Batista was named No. 8 on the USL’s 20 Under 20 list after playing in 20 matches (19 starts) in his first professional season. His only appearance for the Timbers came in the 2-1 loss in the fourth round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup against the Seattle Sounders FC.
Prior to Timbers 2, the 6-foot-5 defender spent one collegiate season at UC Santa Barbara, earning 2016 Big West All-Freshman honors.
Perez, an Ontario, Calif. native, joins MLS following two years with the Ontario Fury of Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). This season, Perez tallied 20 goals and 5 assists in 10 games before joining LAFC’s training camp in January. During the 2017-18 campaign, Perez was named to the All-Rookie team after notching 27 goals and 12 assists in 18 regular season games.
Before joining the Fury, the 23-year-old attacker spent four years at Loyola Marymount University, finishing his LMU career ranked fourth all-time with 21 goals in 63 matches.
TRANSACTION: Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) signs goalkeeper Phillip Ejimadu, defender Lamar Batista and forward Adrien Perez. Ejimadu will be added to LAFC’s roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
