The LA Galaxy have attacking help coming their way with the Thursday announcement that the club has signed 15-year-old forward Jacob Trainor.
As part of his “wish to be a Galaxy teammate” granted by Make-A-Wish, Trainor continues his 10-year soccer career with the Galaxy after spending time with the 2012 YMCA championship team The Force in Pelham, Ala.
Per club and league policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Trainor will train with the Galaxy on Tuesday in advance of their May 21 match against FC Dallas (10:30 pm ET; MLS Live).
“We are pleased to add Jacob Trainor to our roster,” LA Galaxy head coach and general manager Bruce Arena said in a statement. “Jacob’s experience, dedication and love for soccer are truly inspiring and we believe he will make a great addition to our team.”
The Galaxy teamed up with Make-A-Wish Chapters in Alabama and Greater Los Angeles to grant the wish to Trainor, who was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia on Feb. 8, 2011, and was forced to miss that year’s spring soccer season.
Soccer has been an instrumental part of Trainor’s healing, and his love for the game helped him return to the soccer fields soon after he was diagnosed. Given his condition, most ports used to deliver chemotherapy are inserted in the upper chest, just below the clavicle or collarbone, but Trainor’s pediatric surgeon suggested a lower area so it would be less likely to be hit by a soccer ball.
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Trainor was determined to play soccer while he was undergoing chemo treatments, even after three-and-a-half years of treatment. When Trainor had the opportunity to make a wish, he chose to attend an LA Galaxy game. Despite his Southern roots, Trainor loves the Galaxy and star forward Landon Donovan.
Trainor, his three siblings and his parents also will enjoy a unique game-day experience and watch the game field side during the Galaxy’s midweek home match against FC Dallas as part of his wish.
