The Los Angeles Football Club announced that its MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, LAFC2, has signed seven California-born players to its 2026 roster, enhancing the squad ahead of its season opener. The newly signed players include midfielder Gavin Zambrano, defenders Giuliano Whitchurch, Travis Babineau, and Luke Goodman, midfielder Eddie Villeda, forward Ernesto Rodriguez, and goalkeeper Ethan Scally.
Gavin Zambrano, a Crenshaw native and LAFC Academy alumnus, made his debut for LAFC2 on September 8, 2024, and appeared in 15 matches during the 2025 season, scoring three goals. He is under contract through 2028 with an option for 2029.
Defender Giuliano Whitchurch, from San Diego, joins after a successful collegiate career at Princeton University where he earned First Team All-Ivy honors in both his junior and senior seasons. Whitchurch anchored a defense that achieved 13 shutouts and allowed only four goals in the 2025 regular season, contributing to Princeton’s Ivy League Championship and Ivy League Tournament titles. He is signed through 2026 with options for 2027 and 2028.
Santa Barbara native Travis Babineau, formerly part of the LA Galaxy Academy, brings experience from Cal State San Bernardino, where he was team captain, and UC Irvine. Babineau signed through June 2026 with an option to extend.
Midfielder Eddie Villeda, originally from Compton, was a standout four-year letter winner at Servite High School and completed four seasons at UC Santa Barbara, earning All-Big West Second Team honors in his senior year. His contract runs through June 2026 with an option to extend.
Forward Ernesto Rodriguez, a Camarillo native, joined LAFC2 after scoring 27 goals and providing seven assists over 35 appearances at Oxnard College. He signed through June 2026 with an option for extension.
Defender Luke Goodman, also from Santa Barbara, was a four-year starter at UC Davis, appearing in 69 matches and helping the team secure a Big West tournament championship. Goodman’s contract extends through June 2026 with an option to extend.
Goalkeeper Ethan Scally, from Los Angeles and a product of the LAFC Academy, signed through June 2030 with an option for 2031. Internationally, Scally represented Japan at the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup and the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup, helping Japan reach the quarterfinals and recording two clean sheets in pivotal matches.
The newly signed players will be part of LAFC2’s roster for their 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season opener on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 7 p.m. PT, when they face the Tacoma Defiance in an away match streamed on MLSNEXTPro.com.
CSB Take
LAFC2’s signing of seven Californian players underscores the team’s strategic focus on cultivating local talent with diverse experience, ranging from collegiate success to international competition. Players like Zambrano and Scally bring valuable familiarity with professional environments and international play, while collegiate leaders such as Whitchurch and Babineau offer defensive stability and leadership. These additions position LAFC2 to be competitive in the upcoming MLS NEXT Pro season and contribute meaningfully to LAFC’s player development pipeline.
Source: Original report
