19-Year Old Uruguayan Forward Second Youngest Designated Player in MLS History

The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today that Diego Rossi will join the Club as a Young Designated Player. Rossi is the second Designated Player in LAFC history. LAFC has reached an agreement with Rossi’s current club, Peñarol of Uruguay’s Primera División, that will transfer him to LAFC on January 1, 2018.

An electrifying 19-year old forward, Rossi comes to MLS as the second youngest Designated Player in league history after scoring 10 goals for Peñarol this season and helping lead the storied club to their 51st Uruguayan Club Championship. 2015 MLS All-Star Fabian Castillo, who signed with FC Dallas in 2011 as an 18-year old, is the youngest Designated Player in MLS history.

“We are incredibly excited to announce the signing of Diego Rossi,” said LAFC General Manager and Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations John Thorrington. “We believe he will be a great asset on and off the field for LAFC and MLS. Diego is a player with great promise and international interest. It is another powerful statement from LAFC and our league that Diego is choosing to take the next step of his career in Los Angeles.”

The Montevideo, Uruguay native has played for the Uruguay Under-17 and Under-20 National Teams, scoring 10 goals for Uruguay in 39 appearances while helping Uruguay win the U-20 South American Championship.

“Diego is a young and exciting attacking player,” LAFC head coach Bob Bradley said. “His experiences at Peñarol and his ability fit perfectly with our vision of the team we are building at LAFC. We believe Diego will mature into a top-class player.”

Rossi entered the Peñarol youth system at 12-years old and led the U-17 club to the league title. Rossi made his First Team regular season debut on April 29, 2016 and scored his first goal five days later. He has made 47 total appearances with the Peñarol First Team, scoring 13 goals in all matches, including the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club competition.

Rossi joins a rapidly growing LAFC roster that features Carlos Vela, Omar Gaber and recent acquisitions Walker Zimmerman, Laurent Ciman, Tyler Miller, Latif Blessing, and Marco Ureña.