The LA Galaxy took a huge step forward toward keeping their dominant back line intact on Friday, announcing they had re-signed right back Sean Franklin.
LA also re-signed midfielder Bryan Jordan, exercised the option on forward Adam Cristman’s contract and signed striker Pat Noonan and goalkeeper Nick Noble. Terms of the deals were not released, per club and league policy.
Franklin, 27, who was rumored to have interest overseas, is coming off his best season to date for the Galaxy, starting 25 games and scoring four goals to go along with three assists. LA chose the former MLS Rookie of the Year in the first round of the 2008 SuperDraft. He started all four of LA’s playoff games en route to an MLS Cup title and played in his first All-Star Game in 2011.
Cristman was also a starter in the Galaxy’s 1-0 victory against Houston at MLS Cup 2011 and returns for his second season with Bruce Arena’s side after scoring three goals in all competitions. Jordan will enter his fifth season with the club, during which the right midfielder has made 48 appearances.
Noonan, who was taken in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry Draft, joins his fifth team in six seasons after making stops in New England, Columbus, Colorado, Seattle and, now, LA. The 31-year-old made just nine appearances (two starts) for the Sounders in 2011.
Finally, Noble joins the Galaxy after two seasons in Sweden with second-division Ljungskile SK, where he appeared in 59 games and kept 21 clean sheets. He was drafted by the Chicago Fire in 2007, but didn’t play any league games for the club and left for Europe in December 2009. He joins fellow netminders Josh Saunders and Brian Perk on the roster.
