<p>New <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> side San Diego FC is set to make the first major signing of its young history. The club, which begins MLS play in 2025, is nearing an agreement for Hirving “Chucky” Lozano from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psv-eindhoven-tv-schedule-for-viewers-in-the-us/">PSV Eindhoven</a>. Although a deal is not finalized, there are <a href="https://theathletic.com/5458164/2024/04/29/chucky-lozano-san-diego-mls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suggestions</a> that it will be completed ahead of the 2024 Copa America. </p>



<p>Lozano is expected to be a key figure for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/mexico-national-team-tv-schedule/">Mexico</a> at the upcoming tournament. Alongside captain Guillermo Ochoa and vice-captain Edson Alvarez, the forward is one of the more important players in the squad. Lozano has more goals for El Tri than any other current player on the most recent roster.</p>



<p>San Diego is paying the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/eredivisie-tv-schedule/">Eredivisie</a> leader roughly $12 million for the Mexican star. PSV only purchased Lozano from reigning <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> champions <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/napoli-tv-schedule-for-viewers-in-united-states/">Napoli</a> back in September for $16 million. While he signed a five-year deal with the Dutch team, the winger is departing the club this summer. Lozano has managed to score six goals and add three assists during the current campaign.</p>



<h2>San Diego targeting Hirving Lozano makes sense for many reasons </h2>



<p>While making a name for himself in Europe, Lozano initially made his bones in his native country with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/cf-pachuca-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Pachuca</a>. After helping the club win the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liga-mx-tv-schedule/">Liga MX</a> Clausura and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/concacaf-champions-league-tv-schedule/">CONCACAF Champions League</a>, the forward then moved on to his first stint with PSV. </p>



<p>San Diego’s move to target Lozano certainly makes sense for multiple reasons. First of all, the winger is a talented player that should flourish in MLS. He has racked up 30 direct goal involvement in 70 total matches with his national team. Lozano is also a serial winner and has guided all three of his clubs to significant trophies.</p>



<p>Along with his talent on the pitch, the forward will also bring a top Mexican connection to his new team. Downtown San Diego is just 17 miles from the Mexican border. Signing an international star such as Lozano benefits the club in fan interest, both at the arena and on TV.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240430_WST_504306_San-Diego-Mexico-1200x670_9bd65555.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-504331" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/San-Diego-Mexico-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/San-Diego-Mexico-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/San-Diego-Mexico-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/San-Diego-Mexico.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>San Diego FC <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/new-mls-team-san-diego-fc-has-unique-twist-in-recruiting/">recently strengthened</a> its relationship with Mexico due to the club’s decision to build its headquarters close to its neighbors to the south. Current FIFA rules say that if a club’s headquarters are within 31 miles of a country’s border, the team can then recruit 31 miles into the other nation. San Diego FC’s facilities are just less than 30 miles from Mexico. This means that the new MLS team can potentially recruit in Tijuana and the city’s neighboring areas.</p>



<h2>New MLS club only has three players on the current roster</h2>



<p>The pending deal for Lozano adds a significant piece to San Diego’s squad. Team officials have only made three official signings so far. United States U17 goalkeeper Duran Ferree is currently on loan at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/usl-championship-tv-schedule/">USL Championship</a> side Orange County SC. Midfielder Jeppe Tverskov and forward Marcus Ingvarsten are both <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/denmark-national-team-tv-schedule/">Denmark</a> internationals and play for Nordsjælland. The Danish club shares ownership with San Diego FC.</p>



<p>MLS officials awarded the Californian city as their newest expansion club back in 2023. The new team’s ownership group paid a massive <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/san-diego-poised-for-next-mls-expansion-franchise-20230508-WST-432068.html">$500 million</a> expansion fee to join the North American league. San Diego will soon amp up their roster moves, including hiring a new head coach, as the 2025 season quickly approaches. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>

San Diego FC to strengthen Mexico ties with pending Lozano deal

New Major League Soccer expansion team San Diego FC is reportedly set to make Hirving "Chucky" Lozano their first ever major signing.


<p>Chucky Lozano is one name that could be making the switch to Major League Soccer. Napoli is shopping the Mexican. Despite playing well and often for the Italian club in recent seasons, he has not grown as rapidly as Victor Osimhen or Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Lozano snubbed a move to Saudi Arabia to pursue a different challenge. According to one report, that could be Los Angeles Football Club. </p>



<p>Adam Benlaziz of SportsBlog reports Lozano is considering a move to LAFC. There, he would team up with compatriot Carlos Vela, who has been a star in MLS since coming over in 2018. </p>



<p>Napoli is hunting for around $15 million in a Lozano sale, which is far less than the $50 million Napoli paid back in 2019. However, since that move, Lozano put out decent numbers with the club. In 155 appearances, Lozano scored 30 goals and assisted a further 17. Moreover, Lozano won trophies in Italy. He won the Scudetto this most recent season while also winning the Coppa Italia in the 2019/20 season.</p>



<p>Lozano has also been an integral player with the Mexican National Team, emerging as one of its bright young stars. Turning 28 later this month, Lozano has logged <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.us/hirving-lozano/nationalmannschaft/spieler/316889" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">64 caps</a>. In those games, he scored 17 goals and assisted 11 times. One of those goals was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BSeFs40QOI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a famous winner against Germany</a> in the 2018 World Cup group stage.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CHUCKY LOZANO ➡️ LAFC 🧐<br><br>Per multiple sources, <br>Chucky Lozano 🇲🇽 is considering a move to LAFC 🇺🇸 and has began talks with the club to agree to personal terms. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LAFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LAFC</a> <br><br>According to several reports Napoli 🇮🇹 are shopping him for $15 million and he only had 1 year left on his… <a href="https://t.co/WD6MsMyR65">pic.twitter.com/WD6MsMyR65</a></p>— Adam Benlaziz (@ABenlaziz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABenlaziz/status/1680635808548638722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>Injuries have not been kind to Lozano, though. The Mexican has missed 29 games during his time in Italy due to various injuries. </p>



<h2>LAFC a sensible option for Lozano in MLS</h2>



<p>Lozano is still a talented player, even if Napoli is willing to eat a net loss on a transfer. However, if he does move on, LAFC would be a good fit for Hirving Lozano.</p>



<p>The Los Angeles club does have an open Designated Player spot, which would allow the club to pay him more. Given his ability, Lozano would likely be a smashing success in the league. Fellow Mexican <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/vela-brace-gives-lafc-bragging-rights-in-el-trafico-thriller-20230416-WST-428706.html">Carlos Vela has thrived</a> in the league. The three-time MLS All-Star won the MVP award in 2019. He capped that off with an MLS Cup in 2022.</p>



<p>Adding Lozano would make LAFC the favorites this year to complete a brace of titles in MLS. With <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/messi-signs-with-mls-and-inter-miami-after-lengthy-delay-20230715-WST-443370.html">Lionel Messi coming to Major League Soccer</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/08/20/lafcs-success-in-mls-and-beyond/">LAFC wants to stay at the forefront</a> of the discussion by signing its own talent from a European club.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Antonio Balasco</em></p>


Chucky Lozano is one name that could be making the switch to MLS with LAFC pushing for the Napoli winger according to recent reports.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Hirving Lozano"

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San Diego FC to strengthen Mexico ties with pending Lozano deal

Leagues: MLS

Mexico star Lozano debating move to MLS and LAFC