January 2 – France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has joined Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC from Tottenham Hotspur.
Lloris spent 11 years at Tottenham, nine of them as captain, and has signed a one-year deal with LAFC with an option to extend. He appeared at halftime during Tottenham’s New Year’s Eve home game against Bournemouth to say goodbye to the home fans and was warmly applauded.
“Thank you for your support since day one. It’s been a great privilege to be one of you and one of your captains as well,” Lloris later said on social media.
“It’s the end of the chapter, but you will always be in my heart. Spurs will always be a special place for me and my family. Thank you for all the memories we shared. I wish you the best.”
Lloris, now 37, kept 151 clean sheets in 447 games for Spurs and helped his side reach the 2019 Champions League final which they lost to Liverpool. He has not played since the arrival of manager Ange Postecoglou in the close season.
Crowned a World Cup winner in 2018, he retired from international football in January after becoming France’s most-capped player with 145 appearances.
“Hugo is arguably the most successful goalkeeper of his generation and a proven winner,” said LAFC co-President and General Manager John Thorrington.
“We are incredibly excited that Hugo has chosen LAFC for the next phase of his illustrious career. He brings unprecedented leadership experience at the highest levels of football, which we know will greatly benefit our club in our pursuit of more trophies.”
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