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Celebrated Mexican star Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez confirmed his move to Major League Soccer’s L.A. Galaxy on Tuesday.

“It was the right time, the right opportunity,” Hernandez said, per the Los Angeles Times.

The Galaxy have yet to announce the transfer, however Hernandez conveyed his excitement on the move and was pictured wearing the team’s jersey.

According to multiple reports Friday night, the Galaxy signed Hernandez from Sevilla, paying the Spanish club a transfer fee of close to $10 million and making the 31-year-old the highest-paid player in the league.



Sports Illustrated reported Hernandez will make $6 million annually in guaranteed money as part of a three-year deal that is also filled with incentives.

“I’m going to be playing,” Hernandez told the Times. “That’s what I want in my life. People are going to say it was because I couldn’t make it (in Europe), but sometimes in football there are things that are not in your hands.

“The last two years, the managers decided on giving confidence to other players rather than me. And now, the LA Galaxy, the manager of the club and the league, are telling me: ‘Look, Javier, we want to give you all the trust, all the confidence to help us,’ and that’s why I’m taking this opportunity.”

Hernandez effectively replaces striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored 52 goals in 53 starts over two seasons for the Galaxy before he joined Italian side AC Milan.

Hernandez started his club career with Mexico’s Guadalajara in 2006 before seeing time at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham before moving to Spain. He has 115 career goals for his club teams.

Hernandez has also been productive for Mexico’s national team, scoring a national-record 52 goals in 109 appearances while participating in three World Cups.

“I’m going to be able to play in front of a lot of Mexican fans, Galaxy fans, American fans,” Hernandez said. “That’s what’s great about football. They give you a lot of opportunities.”

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)