After Exchanging For No.1 Waiver Spot, LAFC Sign Julian Gaines
The LAFC sign Julian Gaines, a defender from the USL team Las Vegas Lights, utilizing the number one spot in the MLS Waiver Order on Thursday. In exchange for $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and the 21st spot in the MLS Waiver Order, LAFC obtained the top number one spot from Toronto FC. LAFC will now shift down back to the bottom of the MLS Waiver Order list following this move.
Julian Gaines made his professional debut with Austin Bold back in 2019, and is the younger brother of Austin FC winger McKinze Gaines. The 18-year-old Austin, Texas native has previously represented the United States youth national teams and is capable of playing up and down the right flank as both a right-back and a right wing-back.
Back in 2016-2017, Gaines played internationally with the United States U-15 and U-17 national teams. He is a product of the Barca Residency Academy in Arizona, joining them in 2019. Gaines also made twelve appearances and one score for LAFC’s USL Championship partner Las Vegas Lights this season. Before LAFC sign Julian Gaines, his contract with the Las Vegas Lights was cancelled.
“Julian is a talented and exciting young player who has played well with Las Vegas,” said LAFC general manager John Thorrington. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with him at LAFC as he continues to develop as a person and a player.”
After LAFC sign Julian Gaines, it would be their fourth summer signing. Also a huge coincidence that forward Cristian Arango, center-back Sebastien Ibeagha, and defensive midfielder Daniel Crisostomo all came from the Las Vegas Lights. Reunited with former Barca Residency Academy teammate Bryce Duke, Julian Gaines seems pretty excited to join the team as he put the LAFC’s announcement tweet as his pinned tweet.
