With playing time hard to come by at West Bromwich Albion, former England and Wales youth national team goalkeeper Jonathan Bond hopes that his LA Galaxy tenure represents a launching pad of sorts. The prestige sure helps, too.
The 26-year-old feels that he's joining one of the world’s biggest clubs. LA, a Major League Soccer original, have won a record five MLS Cups alongside four Supporters’ Shields and two U.S. Open Cups. They've attracted global soccer stars like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and current DP forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.
“I’m so excited,” Bond told the PA news agency. “It’s one of the most famous clubs in the world and to have the opportunity to play for a team like that is massive.”
Bond, who originally turned pro with Watford, found the most playing time at Peterborough United in England’s lower leagues. He fell down the pecking order at West Brom during the 2020-21 Premier League season, leading to opportunities elsewhere.
As LA prepare for the 2021 season, their first under head coach Greg Vanney, Bond figures to fight for playing time alongside former US youth international Jonathan Klinsmann. David Bingham was their starter the last three seasons, though he was out of contract after 2020.
Bond holds an American passport and won’t require an international roster spot, since his mother is from Seattle. He also said there was MLS interest this past summer, though a January deal seemed more likely.
“I’m going there to play, it’s a huge opportunity to play regularly and get some full seasons at a high level,” Bond said. “I was hoping and praying it was going to go through because these things are never guaranteed, they are always complicated.”
For more from Bond as he departs West Brom and looks to impress in LA on uk.sports.yahoo.com.
