The LA Galaxy signed Brazilian midfielder Vitor Gomes Pereira Júnior, known as Juninho, the club announced Tuesday. The Galaxy signed him after acquiring his rights from the Chicago Fire for $75,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
Juninho’s MLS career began with the Galaxy in 2010, when he was on loan from Brazilian side Sao Paulo FC through 2013. He was then officially signed by the Galaxy and remained with the club until the 2015 season, when he joined Club Tijuana of Liga MX for a three-year deal. Juninho was sent on loan to the Chicago Fire in 2017.
“I am very excited to welcome back such a talented and well-respected player to our club,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese in the club’s release. “Juninho knows what it means to represent the LA Galaxy and will be a leader on and off the field for our players. He is a valuable addition to our roster.”
Juninho was a part of the Galaxy’s 2011, 2012 and 2014 MLS Cup winning sides, making 187 regular season appearances and 21 postseason appearances.
He partnered with Marcelo Sarvas in central midfield for much of his time with the Galaxy, providing consistent stability in the middle of the field. Moving forward, he could working through the depth chart to find that role again for the Galaxy.