By Braden Chalker
MLS expansion club San Diego FC are in "advanced talks" to sign Hirving "Chucky" Lozano from Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven for roughly $12m, according to a recent report from The Athletic.
Lozano could be on the move this summer and make his way back to North America but not for a Liga MX side where his career took off with Pachuca. Instead, Lozano just might join San Diego ahead of their inaugural 2025 MLS season and should the deal go through, he would become the seventh-most expensive transfer in league history.
The 28-year-old winger hasn't exactly returned to form in his second stint in the Eredivisie after lifting the 2022/23 Serie A title with Napoli. The former Pachuca player has registered six goals and three assists in league play and will hope to improve those figures should he complete his move to San Diego ahead of next season.
Why do San Diego FC want to sign Chucky Lozano?
As San Diego are nearing their first-ever campaign as an MLS side next year, they'll need all the help they can get if they wish to start off on the right foot like LAFC and avoid three straight last-place finishes like FC Cincinnati. Even if San Diego fall behind the eight ball in their first few seasons, Cincinnati have turned it around after qualifying for MLS Cup playoffs in 2022 and lifting last year's Supporters' Shield -- a slow start isn't necessarily the end of the world.
However, acquiring a player like Lozano would be a huge boost for the team as they'll face numerous challenges in the 2025 season. Lozano would more than likely join as a Designated Player and spearhead the attack for the newest MLS side.
Not only would Lozano be San Diego's big-name signing to attract fans and generate excitement, but he would also fit into most manager's plans -- even though San Diego have yet to hire a head coach. Lozano still has bags of pace and will look to exploit MLS defenses as clubs tend to priority top-quality attackers over top-notch defenders due to the league's $5.2m salary cap.
Lozano has amassed 119 goals and 74 assists in 413 club appearances, and he's more than capable of adding to those numbers in a bid to lead San Diego to glory starting in 2025.
What would this signing mean for Major League Soccer?
Lozano's potential arrival to MLS would bring even more eyes to the league in the same sense that Carlos Vela did when he joined LAFC ahead of their inaugural 2018 season.
While it would be a huge signing for San Diego, it would also be a huge coup for the league as a whole. It would grow on the theme of MLS being able to attract young as well as experienced talent while also recruiting players still in their prime. We've already seen MLS attract the biggest names in the history of the sport -- Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney -- and Lozano's potential signing would only increase the league's credibility.
Whether a deal gets finalized or not remains to be seen, but it would be massive for San Diego as they prepare to navigate their 2025 season while MLS continues to grow and convince players to join the North American league over top European divisions.
This article was originally published on 90min.com as Why do San Diego FC want to sign Chucky Lozano?.
