LAFC: Making sense of Walker Zimmerman trade

In a shock move, LAFC sent Walker Zimmerman to Nashville SC in a huge trade for both clubs. Here, I try to make sense of it from Los Angeles’ perspective.

Wil Trapp’s surprising trade to Inter Miami via the Columbus Crew appeared to be the sole candidate for the most shocking move of the 2020 Major League Soccer offseason. However, Nashville SC’s acquisition of defender Walker Zimmerman via Los Angeles FC on Tuesday morning might have just topped it.

LAFC received an international roster spot along with $600,000 in Targeted Allocation Money for 2020 and $350,000 in 2021. If Zimmerman hits certain stipulations, the total allocation money sent to LA could be as much as $1.25 million, a not-insignificant amount.

One of the key components of LAFC’s roster-building and success on the pitch has been the play of Zimmerman. The United States Men’s National Team defender played in both of the LAFC’s first two seasons in MLS. He was often the club’s main aerial threat on set pieces, scoring some timely goals, and was an invaluable part of the best defense in the league last season, forming formidable partnership alongside Eddie Segura.

It initially appeared as though Zimmerman was set to be in the Black and Gold of LAFC for the foreseeable future as just last January he signed a contract extension through the 2022 season. And yet, here we are, just a year later, discussing his departure and what it means for the team he leaves behind.

The timing of the trade is also curious. LAFC are set to embark on their first campaign in the CONCACAF Champions League. Their first-round opponents, Leon, are not to be taken lightly and have the potential to end LAFC’s continental ambitions quickly. Zimmerman, without question, would have helped Bob Bradley’s side immensely.

While LAFC boasted the best defense in MLS last season, the backline was still the weakness of the team. With Zimmerman now gone, it remains even more of a concern entering the 2020 season.

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The primary head-scratching element of all this is that there is no clear successor to Zimmerman. Andy Najar was linked to a move to LAFC but the front office dispelled that rumor quickly. Tristan Blackmon will likely shift inside after a productive year at full-back, and while he is talented, it would be foolish to think that he can replicate Zimmerman’s performance level at such a young and inexperienced age.

This leaves lots of questions to be answered. You would presume that LAFC will be looking to bring in a defender before the start of the MLS season. They did acquire an international roster spot which will aid such a search.

But at present, they have only Segura and Blackmon as the obvious starting options at center-back, and for a team looking to defend their Supporters’ Shield, right the wrongs of their playoff humiliation, and make a deep run in the CCL in their first campaign in the competition, that will not cut it.

Zimmerman’s departure will prove costly if LAFC are unable to replace him and struggle defensively as a result. And at present, they have no one to do so.