The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today that the Club has transferred defender Laurent Ciman to Dijon FCO of France’s Ligue 1.
“Laurent has been a big part of LAFC’s history. He will be forever remembered as the Club’s first captain and the first goal scorer at Banc of California Stadium,” EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager John Thorrington said. “These decisions are never easy but we succeeded in finding the right deal for both the Club and Laurent. We thank Laurent for his commitment and contribution to LAFC and wish him, his wife Diana, and their family nothing but the best in the next phase of his career.”
Ciman, 33, started all 22 regular season contests he played in for the Black & Gold, tallying three goals in 1,980 minutes. LAFC’s first captain, he scored the first goal in Banc of California Stadium history when his dramatic free kick with seconds remaining gave the Club a 1-0 win over Seattle on April 29.
A 2018 MLS All-Star for LAFC, Ciman played four seasons in MLS and was named the 2015 MLS Defender of the Year, earned MLS Best XI honors in 2015, and was selected to a total of three MLS All-Star Games. He appeared in 107 matches (all starts), registering five goals and three assists in 9,569 minutes.
The Belgian international was initially acquired by LAFC in a trade with Montreal Impact for Jukka Raitala and Raheem Edwards, the fourth and fifth selections in the 2017 Expansion Draft on December 12, 2017.
"Laurent has played an important role getting us started in our first season at LAFC,” said LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley. “He has given a lot to this Club and we will always appreciate his passion, leadership and strong play.”
LAFC (12-7-7; 43 points) is currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference, and is off to the best start for an MLS expansion team since 1998. The Club returns to action Saturday, September 1 taking on reigning MLS Cup champion Toronto FC at 5:00 p.m. PT (YouTube TV, UniMás 46, ESPNLA 710 AM, 980 AM) at BMO Field.
TRANSACTION – Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) transfers defender Laurent Ciman to Dijon FCO of France’s Ligue 1.
