All five selections competed for clubs that advanced to Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs
NEW YORK
(Tuesday, December 12, 2017)
– The Los Angeles Football Club selected goalkeeper Tyler Miller with the first pick of the MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday. LAFC selected five players and unveiled their selections from the LAFC Experience Center in Los Angeles.
LAFC opened the Expansion Draft with the selection of 24-year-old goalkeeper
Tyler Miller
, formerly of Seattle Sounders FC. Miller served as the backup to Stefan Frei, but he stepped up during the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, posting a 2-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo in the opening leg of the Western Conference Championship.
LAFC then selected 20-year-old Ghanaian forward
Latif Blessing
, who recorded three goals and an assist in 25 appearances for Sporting Kansas City during his 2017 rookie season in MLS.
Costa Rica national team striker
Marco Ureña
was LAFC’s third pick. In addition to a standout year during FIFA World Cup Qualifying to help Costa Rica qualify for Russia next year, Ureña also produced five goals and three assists for the San Jose Earthquakes in 2017.
Finland defender
Jukka Raitala
was the fourth selection after making 20 starts for Columbus Crew SC this past season. To cap off the draft, LAFC chose 22-year-old forward
Raheem Edwards
, who recorded six assists and a goal in 21 games for MLS Cup champions Toronto FC.
All five selections represented clubs that advanced to the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Following the draft, LAFC traded Raitala and Edwards to the Montreal Impact for defender
Laurent Ciman
, who helped Belgium qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- CLICK HERE for the full 2017 MLS Expansion Draft guidelines.
PLAYERS SELECTED IN 2017 MLS EXPANSION DRAFT
<strong>Round</strong> |
<strong>Player</strong> |
<strong>Former Team</strong> |
<div align="center">1</div> |
<div align="center">Tyler Miller, GK</div> |
<div align="center">Seattle Sounders FC</div> |
<div align="center">2</div> |
<div align="center">Latif Blessing, F</div> |
<div align="center">Sporting Kansas City</div> |
<div align="center">3</div> |
<div align="center">Marco Ureña, F</div> |
<div align="center">San Jose Earthquakes</div> |
<div align="center">4</div> |
<div align="center">Jukka Raitala, D (traded to MTL)</div> |
<div align="center">Columbus Crew SC</div> |
<div align="center">5</div> |
<div align="center">Raheem Edwards, F (traded to MTL)</div> |
<div align="center">Toronto FC</div> |
