LA Galaxy stalwart Omar Gonzalez is headed to Germany on loan until mid-February.
The Galaxy and FC Nürnberg announced that the reigning MLS Defender of the Year joined the German Bundesliga side on Thursday at their training camp in Belek, Turkey.
Gonzalez, who started 29 regular-season games and all four postseason matches during the Galaxy’s run to the MLS Cup last season, was granted permission to leave head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s US national team camp in Arizona on Wednesday.
"We are excited to have Omar with us at training camp," Martin Bader, the sport executive and spokesperson at FC Nürnberg, said in a statement on the club's website. "We were planning on signing him this summer, but we were offered the chance to secure his services until at least the middle of February.
"After Philipp Wollscheid's transfer, we needed to consider a way to strengthen our central defense for the coming season. And Omar is an interesting candidate — a young, talented player who could represent FC Nürnberg well.”
Gonzalez joins fellow American Timothy Chandler on the Nürnberg back line. The two have never played together for the US national team.
The Galaxy expect Gonzalez back in LA on Feb. 15 ahead of their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal tie with Toronto FC, which kicks off March 7.
WATCH: Gonzalez scores against Chicago
