LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, March 6, 2019) – The LA Galaxy have signed 20-year-old defender Diedie Traore, the club announced today, after acquiring an international spot from Columbus Crew SC. The Galaxy signed Traore after trading $100,000 in General Allocation Money this year and $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money next year to Columbus Crew SC for a 2019 International Roster Slot, expiring Dec. 31, 2019.

“Diedie joined the LA Galaxy organization after being identified at an LA Galaxy II Open Tryout. He progressed quickly through the LA Galaxy Academy and Galaxy II, demonstrating his quality and commitment,” said LA Galaxy General Manager Dennis te Kloese. “We have enjoyed witnessing Diedie’s development within our club and look forward to helping him further grow his talent.”

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Traore, from Bondy, France, is the club’s first player to sign a professional contract after being discovered through the organization’s Open Tryout process. Traore traveled to Los Angeles from Paris to win an open tryout with LA Galaxy II in January 2018 at Dignity Health Sports Park. After making the 5,642 mile trip from Paris to Los Angeles, Traore then joined the LA Galaxy Academy, playing with the U-19s for the remainder of the 2018 season. He started in the USSDA Playoffs semifinal and final matches in Kansas City on July 8 and July 10, helping the U-19s to a 2nd place finish.

On July 25, 2018, LA Galaxy II signed Traore to his first professional contract. During the 2018 season, Traore made 13 appearances, 11 starts and recorded five assists, becoming Los Dos’ leader in assists for the season.

As a youth, Traore was a member of FC Metz’s (France) Academy, a program whose graduates include Emmanuel Adebayor, Sadio Mane, Robert Pires, Miralem Pjanic, and Louis Saha.

This week, Traore and the LA Galaxy will compete in their first away match of the 2019 season, taking FC Dallas at 12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, March 9 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (Univision, UniMas).