Neither rain, sleet, snow nor an expiring contract will keep Denis Bouanga from playing for the Los Angeles Football Club over the next four years.
The reigning MLS Golden Boot winner has extended his designated player deal with LAFC for two more seasons, keeping the 29-year-old French attacker dressed in black and gold through 2028, should the team exercise an option for the final year.
The new agreement, announced Friday by club co-president and general manager John Thorrington during a press conference at the LAFC performance training center, was described as the result of Bouanga outperforming his contract.
“That is something that starts with our owners and we greatly appreciate their understanding of what that then does for the team and the message it sends internally, ” Thorrington said. “And the message it sends externally is we believe Denis is one of, if not the best, attacker in the league. To have him here for the near, medium, potentially long-term is something that is exactly aligned with our ambitions of winning more trophies.”
Joining LAFC during the 2022 summer transfer window following three seasons with AS St. Etienne in France’s Ligue 1, Bouanga was originally contracted until 2025, with a club option for one more season.
He tallied 41 goals and 16 assists across all competitions in 60 appearances for LAFC.
The Frenchman’s 20-goal regular season last year made him an MLS All-Star, MVP finalist, and a member of the league’s Best XI.
He was the top scorer in the CONCACAF Champions League, and with 38 total goals tied Carlos Vela for the most by an MLS player in a calendar year. The winger connected on 15 more – boosted by four hat-tricks – than next-best Philadelphia forward Daniel Gazdag.
“Frankly it’s hard to repeat what he did last season, but we will give it our best and I know Denis will as well,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “He is a complete player, so having players like that on our squad increases our chances to be successful, win games and raise trophies.”
In two postseasons, both ending with a chance to win the MLS Cup, Bouanga’s seven goals in eight matches make him the leading playoff goal scorer for a team that qualified for all but one season since 2018.
“If I can help the team to win titles, I will do it,” Bouanga said following LAFC’s final practice prior to hosting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. “If I can score, I will do it. If I can pass, I will do it. I want to do better every year.”
After operating from wide positions in France, LAFC moved Bouanga closer to the opposing goalkeeper as he meshed with the club’s game model.
Against the 20 MLS teams he has faced, Bouanga scored on 14 of them.
Said Cherundolo: “Credit to Denis to adapt and to listen and to exploit defenses.”
Sporting (0-0-2, 2 points) witnessed No. 99 celebrate the only time they had to deal with him, a 1-1 affair in their last visit to BMO Stadium.
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Opening 2024 with a pair of draws by the same one-apiece scoreline, SKC faces an LAFC (1-1-0, 3 points) squad eager to run following the hysterical snow day defeat in Salt Lake City, which included a $10,000 fine from the league on Cherundolo for comments he made about “one of the worst sporting events I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Expect partly cloudy skies and near 60 degrees at kickoff Saturday, as Bouanga seeks what LAFC expects to be the first of many goals this season and into the future.
Sporting Kansas City at LAFC
When: 7:39 p.m. PT Wednesday
Where: BMO Stadium
TV/Radio: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)/710 AM, ESPN App, 980 AM