Former New Zealand international winger Tyler Boyd has been transferred from LA Galaxy to MLS rivals Nashville Soccer Club.
Tauranga-born Boyd was traded on December 30 — his 29th birthday — in a deal which provides Galaxy with salary cap and roster benefits.
He joins the Tennessee club till the 2026 Major Soccer League season, with an option to stay for 2027.
Mike Jacobs, general manager of Nashville SC, said:
“Tyler is an outstanding attacking player who has proven the ability to create and finish scoring chances in MLS, abroad, and with the US. Men’s National Team.
“He is a great fit on and off the field, and we are excited to add him to our group.”
Boyd played age-group football for New Zealand’s U-20 side and made six appearances for the All Whites before switching allegiance to the United States national team, courtesy of an American mother.
He has ten caps for the US national team.
LA Galaxy said the deal helped their roster planning.
“As we continue to improve our roster, with the aim of maintaining roster flexibility, Nashville offered us a deal that accomplishes both of those goals,” LA Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz said in a release.
“We wish Tyler and his family the best as he embarks on a new and exciting chapter in his career.”
In the deal between Galaxy and Nashville, Galaxy receive two international roster spots (one in 2024, one in 2025), and $150,000 in General Allocation Money split between the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
If Boyd meets certain performance metrics, Galaxy can receive up to $625,000 in condition GAM per season.
Boyd gets the chance to play for Eastern Conference club Nashville against his former club when they host Galaxy from the Western Conference in a cross-conference fixture on March 10.
He joins a Nashville side whose main attacking threats include English striker Sam Surridge (Bournemouth, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest) and German attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar.
In the 2023 regular MLS season, Boyd scored seven goals and was credited with four assists in 28 starts for the Galaxy, which included two game-winning goals, two game-winning assists, and a passing accuracy of 81.2%.
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Tyler Boyd’s football journey
Boyd played youth football for Melville United and Waikato FC before spending three years with the Wellington Phoenix.
He headed overseas to play in Portugal and Turkey.
Boyd became a free agent in late 2022 when he and Turkish Süper Lig side Beşiktaş J.K. mutually agreed to end his contract.
He signed for Californian club LA Galaxy for the 2023 MLS season, a club he had supported since watching them play in New Zealand as a young boy.
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