Kofi Opare is living his dream.

Born in Ghana and raised in South Africa, the former University of Michigan defender has hoped to play soccer professionally since he was a child. His debut might be just hours away.

On Monday, Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy officially announced that Opare signed with the team after training with them in the preseason. He will be eligible to participate immediately and could see action tonight against Costa Rica's Herediano in the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal.

"It has been everything I hoped for, and so much more," Opare said of his experience with the Galaxy. "It's great that they believe I am able to contribute to the team. It gives me more motivation to work harder and better myself every day."

Los Angeles drafted Opare 24th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft after he started 71 games in four years for the Wolverines. The defender made All-Big Ten teams as a freshman and junior and helped Michigan reach its first-ever College Cup in 2010, but his senior season was hindered by appendicitis and a broken nose.



Opare returned from his injuries to anchor the back line in an upset over eventual national champion Indiana and led Michigan to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. And after he graduated and was drafted in January, the defender's new teammates and coaches in Los Angeles have made the transition enjoyable.

"I never expected the team to be this welcoming," Opare said. "The team collectively has been extremely helpful."

Behind offensive weapons in Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and David Beckham, Los Angeles won the MLS Cup in 2011 and 2012. But Donovan has been on unpaid leave since December and Beckham now plays for Paris Saint-Germain, forcing the Galaxy's back line to support the team as the attack retools.



The Galaxy drafted Opare and fellow defender Greg Cochrane in the 2013 SuperDraft, and both saw extensive playing time in the preseason. And whether or not he sees action against Herediano, Opare knows that his new contract means little unless he maintains the level of dedication that made him a leader in Ann Arbor.

"My focus is about the game, about winning, about doing things the right way," Opare said. "Whether I'm playing in a Tim Horton's league, or whether I'm playing in MLS, my philosophy is still the same: I'm going to work hard every day and take nothing for granted."

Alejandro Zúñiga can be reached on Twitter @the_zuniga