Hirving “Chucky” Lozano is in ‘advanced talks’ with MLS’ newest expansion club, San Diego FC, The Athletic report.
San Diego FC joins MLS for the 2025 season, and it seems Lozano could be the marquee signing that helps to usher in a new era. Lozano rejoined PSV last summer after four years at Napoli, and, barring a massive collapse and a series of unlikely events, the Eredivisie giants will lift the league title for the first time since 2017/18. Ironically, PSV last won the league in Lozano’s first stint with the club.
Aged 28, Lozano is the perfect talismanic signing for the expansion club, and he could end up being one of MLS’ most exciting signings ever alongside the likes of Carlos Vela, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, of course, Lionel Messi.
1. Immediate Impact in MLS
San Diego FC will slot into the Western Conference alongside the likes of LAFC, Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy and more. There will be immediate comparisons made to St. Louis City S.C. who won the Western Conference in its first season as an expansion club, plus broke the record for most wins by an expansion club.
Lozano would give San Diego a credible attacking threat up top thanks to his searing pace and goal-scoring ability.
2. Following in Carlos Vela’s Footsteps
Lozano would be 29 if and when he joins San Diego, just a couple months older than when Carlos Vela first signed for LAFC. Vela set MLS ablaze for LAFC scoring 78 goals in 152 appearances and lifted the MLS Cup in 2022. Both attacking-minded wingers, Vela and Lozano have eerily similar statistics for the Mexican national team. Vela, despite being retired from international soccer, scored 19 goals in 72 appearances. Lozano is currently on 18 and 70 respectively. Plus, Lozano hopes to play a big part in Mexico’s Copa America campaign this summer.
From 2012-2018, Vela scored 54 goals in 184 appearances for Real Sociedad before moving to LAFC. In Lozano’s first stint at PSV and time at Napoli (2017-2023), Lozano had 57 goals in 180 appearances. Eerily similar.
Lozano could capture the same amount of attention if he hits the ground running for San Diego playing in the same state, and there will likely be comparisons made among the two if the move comes to fruition.
3. International Pedigree
Lozano first garnered international attention and praise during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored the lone goal assisted by Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez against defending champions Germany in a 1-0 group stage win. He returned the favor to Chicarito assisting the striker in a 2-1 win over South Korea. Lozano started every game of that World Cup for Mexico.
His World Cup performance, alongside his first stint at PSV, earned him a move to Napoli making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history at the time. While he didn’t have the same goal-scoring numbers in Italy, he helped to the club’s first Serie A title in 32 years.
Lozano returned to PSV last September and became the first PSV player since Mark van Bommel in 2005 to score a hat-trick against rival Ajax in a 5-2 win. Lozano also featured in PSV’s Champions League run before going out to Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16.
While the rest of the roster is still being built, Lozano brings immediate credibility to a team that looks to have success in its debut season.
