LAFC's pursuit of Portuguese midfielder Andre Horta has finally paid off, with the player signing a multi-year designated player contract worth just over $1 million per year in salary, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.
Metro's Kristian Dyer was the first to tweet the news that Horta has signed with Major League Soccer. An announcement from LAFC could come early this week, with the transfer fee standing at $7m.
Horta, 21, is currently on loan to SC Braga from reigning Portuguese champions Benfica. There had been some haggling in terms of when Horta would be able to arrive in Los Angeles.
It now appears that unless Braga releases Horta from the loan before the close of the primary transfer window on May 1 -- and the sources said the chances of this were slim -- he will not officially arrive until the opening of secondary transfer window on July 10.
Horta is the third and final DP that LAFC can sign. Mexico international Carlos Vela and Uruguay forward Diego Rossi are the others.
Horta has made a total of 22 league and cup appearances this season, scoring one goal. He began his professional career with Vitoria Setubal in 2014, appearing 43 times over two seasons and scoring two goals. He moved to Benfica prior to the start of the 2016-17 season, and went on to score one goal in 16 league and cup appearances.
Horta is a youth international, having appeared for Portugal's U-18, U-19, U-20, and U-21 teams.
