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Expansion team San Diego FC announced the acquisition of Mexican star Hirving “Chucky” Lozano on Thursday.

He arrives from Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven for a reported $12 million as the MLS club’s first designated player.

The 28-year-old winger will formally join the San Diego roster on Jan. 1 and is under contract through 2028, plus two option years.

Lozano will remain with PSV Eindhoven for the remainder of 2024, with San Diego joining MLS as the league’s 30th team in 2025.

“It’s an honor to join San Diego FC as the club’s first Designated Player,” Lozano said. “It’s exciting to be part of history as we build a club that will compete for championships in MLS. In every country I have played, I always strive to leave a mark, and leaving my mark in San Diego and MLS is very important to me.”

A Mexico City native, Lozano launched his pro career with Liga MX side Pachuca before spending the past seven years in Europe, including two stints at PSV and one with Napoli in Italy’s Serie A. He has scored 119 goals in 416 professional matches while helping his sides win six trophies.

“We are excited to make history as we officially welcome ‘Chucky’ Lozano to San Diego FC as the club’s first Designated Player,” said San Diego FC CEO Tom Penn. “Chucky is a world-class talent, and we couldn’t think of a better star to be the face of our club and represent our region.

“We are thrilled to have him join our club as we look to build a team that will challenge for trophies. ‘Chucky’ is one of the most decorated Mexican internationals in the world, and we look forward to seeing him shine in San Diego and MLS in 2025.”

A mainstay with the Mexican national team, Lozano has appeared in 70 matches for his country, scoring 18 goals. His lone career World Cup goal gave Mexico a 1-0 win over Germany on June 17, 2018, in Moscow.

–Field Level Media