Hugo Lloris, the player with the most captain’s letters in the history of the French national team and winner of the 2018 World Cup, has joined Los Angeles FC.
After spending the last 11 years playing in North London for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, the 37-year-old goalkeeper is heading to LAFC on a one-year guaranteed contract, with club options for 2025 and 2026.
“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner. We are extremely pleased that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his rich career,” said LAFC Co-Chairman and CEO John Thorrington in a statement. “He brings unprecedented leadership experience at the highest levels of football, which we know will be of great benefit to our club as we strive for new trophies.”
Lloris’ permanent transfer comes after he racked up 447 appearances for Tottenham in all competitions, including a runners-up finish in the 2019 Champions League as a teammate of former LAFC striker Gareth Bale.
Lloris has appeared in 70 Champions League matches and 31 Europa League matches in his career.
Born in Nice, France, Lloris captained Tottenham between 2015 and 2022 before being replaced in August. He started his career at OGC Nice, making his Ligue 1 debut at 19. In July 2008, Lloris joined Olympique Lyon, winning the French Cup and the French Super Cup before moving to England in August 2012.
In the current Premier League season, Lloris hasn’t played a minute in any of Tottenham’s 19 games. Behind goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster, Lloris hasn’t taken the field for Tottenham since the 6-1 defeat to Newcastle in April.
Lloris tried to make a transfer in the summer and held talks with Serie A club Lazio, but this did not materialize.
The free transfer to Los Angeles is a bargain – $350,000 according to the source – providing LAFC flexibility in its lineup, but also signaling the likely departure of 29-year-old French-speaking Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau, who has become a free agent.
Free agent John McCarthy signed with the Galaxy, and veteran Eldin Jakupovic opted out at the start of the season, heralding a shake-up of LAFC’s goalkeeping unit under assistant coach Oko Nikolov.