Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez secures visa, joins LA Galaxy official roster

Chicharito - LA Galaxy - warm-up top

LA Galaxy fans won’t have to wait much longer to see Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez play for the five-time MLS Cup champions. 


The club announced on Wednesday that the 31-year-old forward has officially been added to the team’s roster after his P-1 Visa was received. Chicharito will be available for selection this Saturday when the Galaxy face Toronto FC at Dignity Health Sports Park in a preseason match.


Chicharito was signed by LA on Jan. 21 as a Designated Player, and had been training outside of the group. That hasn’t stopped LA from starting their 2020 preseason on the front foot, with wins over the Vancouver Whitecaps and New England Revolution already in the ledger.


Chicharito, Mexico’s all-time leading international scorer, is expected to slot into LA's No. 9 role between wide players like Cristian Pavon and Aleksandar Katai. With visa in hand, he'll have two weeks to mesh with those teammates before the Galaxy's season opener on Feb. 29 at the Houston Dynamo.