Orange County SC add defensive depth with the signing of former LA Galaxy player Hugo Arellano | Photo courtesy of Orange County SC
Irvine. Calif. (March 15, 2019) – Orange County SC announced today the addition of Hugo Arellano on loan from LA Galaxy for the USL Championship 2019 season, pending league and federation approval.
"Hugo is a player that I'm very familiar with from his time in the Galaxy academy,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “He has a lot of experience for such a young player and is a very good defender that can play both central or as a left back. I feel he is a great fit for how we like to play.”
Arellano, 21 made his MLS debut for LA Galaxy against Houston Dynamo in 2017 and went on to make 3 more appearances that season. During his time with the Galaxy he has represented their USL Championship affiliate side LA Galaxy II, making 40 appearances for Los Dos.
"I’m very excited and eager to be joining the Orange County Soccer Club,” said Arellano. “I believe it was in my best interest to join a club where the team has such a desire to win. The club had a very successful run last season and I plan on contributing right away, to get us even further than last year."
The SoCal native has also been ever present in the U.S. youth national teams from U-15s through to the U-20s. He played a key role in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, when he captained started in all three matches for the U.S. His most recent appearance for the national team was in 2016 when he started against Costa Rica for the U.S. U-20s.
“We are thrilled to add Hugo to our talented roster for the season,” said Oliver Wyss OCSC General Manager. “I want to thank the LA Galaxy for providing us a versatile defender that will definitely show his class and have a big impact in Orange County!”
Arellano joins his former LA Galaxy teammate, Leonardo who signed with Orange County SC earlier this week, both arrive in time for the club’s USL Championship home opener on March 16th against Tulsa Roughnecks.
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SOCCER CLUB
Orange County Soccer Club is Orange County’s only professional soccer team that is part of the United Soccer League (USL), the fastest growing Division II professional soccer league in the world. The USL is comprised of 34 teams across the United States. The team plays its home games at the Orange County Great Park’s Championship Soccer Stadium, located in Irvine, CA. Nestled in the heart of the Great Park, Championship Soccer Stadium has a capacity of over 5,000 for Orange County SC matches. Orange County SC was one of 12 founding members of the USL during its inaugural 2011 season. The preceding club, Orange County Blues, won the 2015 Western Conference Regular Season Championship and reached the Western Conference Semi-Finals of the USL Playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Team owner and Chief Investment Officer of LARO Properties, James Keston, purchased and re-branded the team in 2017. Keston, who actively oversees all operations of the team, is dedicated to providing a pathway to professional soccer and a world-class soccer organization that focuses on the fans, players and youth clubs of Orange County.
For more information about Orange County Soccer Club, and to experience professional soccer in the OC, visit: http://www.orangecountysoccer.com. For more information about the United Soccer League, visit: http://www.uslsoccer.com.
