LAFC signs defender Sergi Palencia through 2024
Announced today, LAFC signs defender Sergi Palencia to a contract through 2024 that includes a club option for 2025. In the event that an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa are granted, Palencia will be included onto the LAFC roster.
“Palencia is a talented defender with experience in some of the top leagues in Europe,” LAFC Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington as LAFC signs defender Sergi Palencia. “He is a great fit to what we are building at LAFC, and we are excited to welcome him to Los Angeles.”
The 26-year-old Palencia joins LAFC after spending the 2022–2023 season with AS Saint–Étienne of the French Ligue 2 where he made nine appearances with seven starts and contributed one assist. He transferred permanently from FC Barcelona to Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2019, where he played in nine games, including six in French Ligue 1 and one in the Europa League alongside current LAFC teammate Denis Bouanga.
Just like LAFC teammate and MLS All-Star Ilie Sanchez, Palencia is a product of FC Barcelona‘s renowned La Masia Youth Academy. The Badalona, Spain native first joined Barça in 2007 at the age of 11 and went on to appear in a total of 103 games across all competitions for Barcelona B from 2015 to 2019. There, he scored two goals and tallied eight assists. In 2013–14, Barcelona U-19 won the U-19 UEFA Youth League Championship with Palencia.
The announcement that LAFC signs defender Sergi Palencia comes a day following the transfer of Chicho Arango. Palencia will help fill the gap as they return to the 2023 season with the goal of achieving back-to-back championships.
