(Football news) Los Angeles FC are on the verge of finalising a deal to bring veteran Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini to Major League Soccer. The deal still hasn’t been signed between LAFC and Chiellini, as the Italian is leaving Juventus after 17 decorated seasons with numerous league titles under his name. LAFC hopes to finalise the deal later this week as they need his experience in the club, considering they are the top of thel MLS standings with 29 points (9-3-2) at the international break and will like to remain there.

The 37-year-old Chiellini bid farewell to Juventus fans in mid-May as the longtime club captain’s career included nine consecutive Serie A championships from 2012-20, along with five Italian Cups. The dependable centre back also retired from the Italian national team, as he played his final match on Wednesday night against Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London, where Italy lost the match 3-0. He finishes his international career with 117 matches for Italy, more than all but four players in the Azzurri's history.Chiellini played in more matches for Juventus than any player except Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon. The three were teammates from 2005-12, and now the retired Del Piero lives part-time in Los Angeles, where he owns the fashionable Italian restaurant N10 and Chiellini looks set to give him company in LA.

Since LAFC started playing as a second team in 2018, it hasn’t often followed the well-worn path of its crosstown rivals with the LA Galaxy in signing football superstars on the back end of their careers. Instead, LAFC has built its roster around Mexican striker Carlos Vela, who was still in his prime, with a supporting cast largely filled with younger talents particularly from South America. With Chiellini, it offers them an opportunity to add top-end talent on LAFC’s back line, which has been terrific all season and with Chiellini’s imminent arrival we can expect them to be defensively very strong. LAFC are performing well under first year coach Cherundolo, whose game is based upon defence stability as this season LAFC have yielded just 16 goals while scoring a league-high 29.

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