Los Angeles Galaxy captain resigns with the team | OneFootball

Next month marks the official start to the 30th season in Major League Soccer. The Los Angeles Galaxy will enter the year as the reigning champions.

Coming back to help the Galaxy capture their seventh title is veteran defender Maya Yoshida. Assuming the team has moved on from fellow veteran defender Martin Caceres, Yoshida will be the oldest player on the roster for head coach Greg Vanney.

The Japan native has enjoyed playing for the Los Angeles Galaxy since making his MLS debut in 2023. In his first season with the team, Yoshida played just 12 games. He scored once and accounted for three assists.

The LA Galaxy did not make the playoffs in 2023 as they were the second worst team in the Western Conference. Yoshida's performance and strong showing on the back line was a major reason for the quick turnaround that saw the Galaxy appear in a record tenth MLS Cup Finals.

Yoshida will play alongside Miki Yamane and John Nelson in the 2025 season. Carlos Garces and Julian Aude are still on the roster, as well.

Jalen Neal has since been traded to CF Montreal. That created an opening for the Los Angeles Galaxy to sign Danish defender Mathias Jørgensen (Zanka).

Yoshida has also appeared in three straight World Cups for Japan (2014, 2018 and 2022). He is an international sensation, along with many others on the Galaxy.

The team will open up the 2025 season when they host the league's newest team, San Diego FC. The LA Galaxy won all 16 contests at Dignity Health Sports Park and all four postseason games there including the 2025 MLS Cup Finals.