The LA Galaxy have signed four players in advance of the start of the 2009 MLS season. The club signed goalkeeper Josh Saunders, defenders A.J. DeLaGarza and Yohance Marshall and midfielder Kyle Patterson, meaning all four will be eligible for the Galaxy's season opener against D.C. United on Sunday, March 22 at The Home Depot Center. Per team and league policy, details of the contracts were not disclosed.
Saunders is the only MLS veteran in the group, having appeared in three games for the Galaxy in 2008 while on loan from Miami FC of the USL First Division. A two-time MLS Cup winner, Saunders was drafted by San Jose in 2003 and won an MLS Cup during his rookie season before signing with the Galaxy in 2005 and helping the club win both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup that year.
DeLaGarza was the Galaxy's second round pick in January's MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland. A two-time College Cup winner with the Terrapins, the 21-year old Bryans Road, Md. native appeared in 88 games during his four years at Maryland, making 81 starts.
Patterson was selected by the Galaxy in the fourth round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of St. Louis University. A native of Birmingham, England, Patterson began his career in 1999 at the Youth Academy at West Bromwich Albion before attending St. Louis in 2005.
Marshall joined the Galaxy during the second week of preseason training after going undrafted at the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. A four-year starter at the University of South Florida, Marshall helped the Bulls win the first Big East title in school history as a senior in 2008 when he scored two goals, two assists and helped his team keep 12 clean sheets in 23 games.
With the four signings, only defender Tony Sanneh remains unsigned from the Galaxy's current 25-man preseason roster.