In a stunning roster decision that has sent ripples through Major League Soccer, the LA Galaxy have parted ways with veteran forward Christian Ramirez less than 36 hours before their highly anticipated 2026 season opener. The timing of this move has raised eyebrows across the league, as the club appears to be making a calculated gamble to reshape its attacking identity following one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
The Galaxy's decision to waive the 34-year-old striker comes as the organization attempts to navigate the complex MLS Roster Compliance deadline while simultaneously clearing valuable salary cap space. However, the abrupt nature of the separation has caught many observers off guard, particularly given Ramirez's recent involvement in competitive fixtures and his standing as a proven MLS commodity.
Ramirez's tenure with the Galaxy, though brief, was marked by flashes of brilliance overshadowed by broader team struggles. After signing with his hometown club ahead of the 2025 campaign, the Los Angeles native managed to contribute four goals and one assist across 25 regular-season appearances. While these statistics might appear modest on the surface, they must be contextualized within a team that failed to generate consistent scoring opportunities and lacked creative cohesion throughout the season.
The 2025 campaign represented a nadir for the five-time MLS Cup champions. The Galaxy limped to a 14th-place finish in the Western Conference, accumulating a paltry 30 points from 34 matches. This disastrous performance ranked among the worst in club history and prompted wholesale evaluation of the roster construction and tactical approach. The team's inability to compete at a high level was exacerbated by a series of injuries and underwhelming performances from key personnel.
What makes the timing of Ramirez's departure particularly perplexing is his recent usage by head coach Greg Vanney. The veteran striker started and logged 58 minutes in the Galaxy's midweek Concacaf Champions Cup encounter against Honduran side San Miguelito, a 1-1 draw that opened their continental competition campaign. Additionally, Ramirez featured prominently throughout the entire preseason schedule, participating in all training sessions and friendly matches, which strongly suggested he was firmly in the club's plans for the upcoming season.
The decision to release Ramirez becomes even more surprising when considering his decorated resume and local ties. As a Los Angeles native, his homecoming was celebrated by fans who appreciated having a local product represent the club. Ramirez arrived at the Galaxy with an impressive collection of silverware, having won MLS Cup, Leagues Cup, and Supporters' Shield titles during successful stints with Columbus Crew, Minnesota United, LAFC, and Houston Dynamo. His career tally of 51 goals in 160 MLS regular-season appearances established him as a reliable, proven goal-scorer at this level.
The Galaxy's offensive struggles in 2025 cannot be overstated. The team managed to score just 46 goals for the entire season, representing one of the lowest attacking outputs in the history of a club renowned for its attacking prowess and star power. This anemic production was directly linked to the extended absence of star attacking midfielder Riqui Puig, whose creative genius and playmaking ability had been the engine of the Galaxy's attack since his arrival.
Puig's devastating ACL injury, suffered early in the 2025 season, created a void that the club simply could not fill. Initially, the medical staff projected that the Spanish maestro would return for the final weeks of the 2025 campaign. However, complications in his rehabilitation process have extended his absence, and Puig will now miss the entirety of the 2026 season as he continues his recovery. This crushing blow fundamentally altered the Galaxy's tactical approach and placed immense pressure on the remaining attacking players to create and finish chances.
Ramirez was specifically brought in to help mitigate the impact of Puig's absence, providing a veteran presence and proven finishing ability in the final third. For a brief period, it appeared this strategy might bear fruit. The striker enjoyed a scintillating start to his Galaxy career, earning Galaxy Player of the Month honors in March 2025 after scoring in four consecutive matches. This early hot streak generated optimism that Ramirez could be the consistent goal-scoring threat the team desperately needed.
Unfortunately, that early promise failed to materialize into sustained production. After his March explosion, Ramirez's form cooled dramatically, and he struggled to find the back of the net with any regularity for the remainder of the season. Whether due to tactical mismatches, lack of service from midfield, or the natural decline that comes with age, the veteran striker could not maintain his early momentum. The Galaxy's broader systemic issues in chance creation certainly didn't help his cause, as the team consistently ranked near the bottom of the league in expected goals and shots on target.
The decision to move on from Ramirez suggests that Galaxy leadership, including general manager Will Kuntz and head coach Greg Vanney, believe they have identified better options to lead their attack in 2026. The club's scoring burden will now fall squarely on the shoulders of its three Designated Players, who represent a significant investment in the team's future success.
Brazilian winger Gabriel Pec, entering his second season with the club, will be expected to significantly improve upon his 2025 tally of six goals and nine assists. The 24-year-old possesses explosive pace and technical skill but needs to add consistency to his game if he hopes to become a true MLS star. Similarly, Ghanaian international Joseph Paintsil, who showed flashes of brilliance in his debut season, must take a step forward in his production and become a more reliable scoring threat on the wing.
The most intriguing addition to the Galaxy's attacking corps is Brazilian forward João Klauss, recently acquired in a trade with St. Louis CITY SC. The 27-year-old arrives with a point to prove after mixed results in his previous MLS stint. The Galaxy are banking on Klauss to provide the goal-scoring presence that Ramirez could not consistently deliver, hoping his blend of size, skill, and movement will unlock opposing defenses.
For Ramirez, the search for a new club is expected to be brief. Having completed a full preseason and participated in competitive matches as recently as this week, the veteran striker should be fit and ready to contribute immediately. His proven track record, leadership experience, and relatively modest salary demands make him an attractive target for several MLS clubs seeking attacking depth.
The most logical destination appears to be Minnesota United, where manager Cameron Knowles is actively searching for a secondary attacking option to complement starting striker Kelvin Yeboah. The Loons have undergone their own roster transformation this offseason, most notably signing Colombian superstar James Rodríguez to a short-term deal through June, with an option to extend through the end of 2026. Adding Ramirez would provide valuable veteran insurance and tactical flexibility, particularly given Rodríguez's injury history and the need to manage his minutes carefully.
A return to Minnesota would be a homecoming of sorts for Ramirez, who enjoyed some of his best MLS seasons with the Loons earlier in his career. The familiarity with the club, city, and league would allow for a seamless transition, and his experience in important matches could prove invaluable as Minnesota pushes for playoff success.
Other potential suitors could include clubs like Sporting Kansas City, who have historically valued experienced forwards, or expansion teams looking for veteran leadership to guide younger players. Regardless of his destination, Ramirez will bring a professional attitude, championship pedigree, and proven goal-scoring ability to his next club.
The Galaxy, meanwhile, must quickly move past this surprising roster decision and focus on the task at hand. Their season opener against New York City FC presents an immediate test of their revamped attack and new tactical approach. The pressure will be immense on Pec, Paintsil, and Klauss to produce goals from the opening whistle, as the club cannot afford another slow start if they hope to return to playoff contention.
The decision to waive Ramirez represents a clear statement of intent from Galaxy leadership: they are prioritizing youth, potential, and long-term building over short-term veteran stability. Whether this gamble pays off will depend largely on the development of their young Designated Players and the immediate impact of Klauss. For a club with the championship pedigree and expectations of LA Galaxy, anything less than a dramatic improvement on their 2025 performance will be considered a failure.
As the 2026 MLS season kicks off, all eyes will be on Carson to see if this bold roster move proves to be a masterstroke or a miscalculation. The Galaxy's faithful supporters, who endured a painful 2025 campaign, are desperate for a return to the club's winning ways. The pressure is on for the remaining attacking players to deliver the goals that Christian Ramirez was brought in to provide but ultimately could not consistently produce.