LAFC: Kenneth Vermeer is a proven winner

LAFC have found their next goalkeeper in former Ajax player Kenneth Vermeer. He is a proven winner, and he might just lead them to a first MLS Cup.

A new goalkeeping era has arrived at Los Angeles FC. The club signed goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer to be their next starting shot-stopper as they were unable to re-sign Tyler Miller to a new deal.

The move comes as a bit of a surprise after it initially appeared their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Galaxy, were after Vermeer and would secure a deal. Instead, LAFC have swept in and stolen Vermeer from under their noses.

Vermeer has been a proven winner during his career in the Dutch Eredivise. He has won five league titles, four with Ajax and one with Feyenoord. Additionally, he won three Dutch Cups and one Belgian Cup.

Vermeer joins LAFC from Feyenoord, where has been since 2014. His career started with Ajax where he made 138 appearances. 50 of those were clean sheets.

Since his contentious move to Ajaz’s great rivals, he has been a regular starter for several seasons, though fell out of the team in 2016 before being loaned out to Club Brugge in the 2017/18 season. Just this season, however, he continued to get plenty of playing time making 16 appearances. LAFC are not signing a washed-up retiree here.

The accolades speak for themselves when it comes to the quality Vermeer brings with him to Major League Soccer. He has performed consistently well at two of Europe’s most respected and historically steeped clubs. But more than his individual performances, he has consistently won.

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LAFC will be in search of the MLS Cup this year after coming up short in 2019. They are looking to take the next step to become champions, something that eluded them at the crucial stage last season after a dominant regular season. The winning mentality that Vermeer brings will certainly aid in their efforts.

Moreover, by bringing in Vermeer, LAFC can also further develop young goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. At just 24, Sisniega showed promise in his six MLS appearances last season but doesn’t seem to be ready just yet to be in the regular starting XI. He will unquestionably benefit from having a veteran teammate in Vermeer.

LAFC have made some great young player signings during this transfer window, especially from South America, but Vermeer takes a different direction. He is more experienced, comes with a greater resume, and is arriving in Los Angeles to win.

He is a signing that LAFC needed to make. Vermeer is a player they couldn’t pass up on, and he has the ability to help lead the team to an MLS Cup in 2020.