Juan Pablo Angel signs multiyear contract with Galaxy

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Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel Wednesday signed a multiyear contract with the Galaxy and said that he looks forward to extending his career in Major League Soccer.

The Galaxy acquired the rights to Angel, 35, in the MLS reentry draft in mid-December after the former Atletico Nacional, River Plate and Aston Villa player was released by the New York Red Bulls. He will join Landon Donovan and David Beckham as the third designated player on the Los Angeles roster.

Angel will be counted upon to fill the void left by striker Edson Buddle, who joined FC Ingolstadt in the German second division after leading the Galaxy in scoring last season with 17 goals.

‘I know the responsibilities that a striker has and people will, at the end of the day, judge you for your goals,’ Angel said in a conference call. ‘I hope I can settle in the team as soon as possible and I can do what I have always done in every club I’ve been. With the services that I can get from the likes of Landon and David, there is a good chance that I’ll be able to finish some of those chances.’

The former Colombia national team player has scored 58 goals in 102 regular-season MLS games over the last four years. Bruce Arena, the Galaxy’s coach and general manager, said that he expects Angel to be ‘a productive and consistent player’ for the team.

Terms of the deal were not revealed.

‘I have enjoyed every minute of my time here’ in MLS, Angel said. ‘It has been challenging at times. This is a new chapter in my MLS career and I’m really looking forward to it.’

-- Grahame L. Jones