John Nelson - Soccer News, Rumors, & Updates

LA Galaxy sign John Nelson to contract extension | MLSSoccer.com TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Extension The LA Galaxy have signed left back John Nelson to a contract extension through the 2027-28 MLS season wi...

JANUARY 21 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Inks contract extension Nelson signed a contract extension with LA Galaxy through the 2027-28 season, with an option for the 2028-29 season, the club announced. "We are thrilled that John is choosing to c...

Impact Nelson has made more than 70 appearances over two seasons with the LA Galaxy, recording one goal and three assists, with his first MLS goal coming in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs against Colorado. He also contributed defensively in 2025 with multiple strong performances, including season-high aerial duel wins, regular clearances late in the campaign, and starts in two of the Galaxy's four shutout victories across all competitions.

JANUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Contract option picked up Nelson's option for 2026 was picked up, the club announced.

Impact Nelson will return to LA Galaxy for the 2026 season after his option was exercised. The defender made 34 appearances this season, starting 24 of them, and registered one assist along with career highs of 14 chances created, 21 tackles and 83 clearances. He is expected to hold a similar role heading into the 2026 season with Galaxy.

NOVEMBER 11, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Defensive stalwart Nelson generated five tackles (four won), six clearances and one interception in Saturday's 4-1 victory versus Sporting Kansas City.

Impact Nelson won four of his five tackles and also cleared the ball plenty to provide some defensive resistance in a high-scoring game. He'll have to keep this up if LA Galaxy want to slow down FC Dallas, a team which has netted 47 goals in 31 MLS games.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Assists equalizer Saturday Nelson assisted once to go with one cross (one accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Houston Dynamo. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 100th m...

Impact Nelson's cross in the 99th minute assisted Lucas Sanabria's equalizing header to steal away a draw from Saturday's match. It marked Nelson's first goal contribution of the season and it came at the perfect moment. He played well on the defensive end too, recording one interception, two clearances and two blocked shots in his full 90 minutes of action.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Sanabria scores late in stoppage time to rally Galaxy to 1-1 draw with Dynamo

Lucas Sanabria scored in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time to rally the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • Associated Press

João Klauss has first career MLS hat trick for St. Louis in 3-3 tie with Galaxy

João Klauss scored three goals, the last of which came in the fifth minute of stoppage time for St. Louis City in a 3-3 tie with the LA Gala...

JUNE 15, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

João Klauss has first career MLS hat trick for St. Louis in 3-3 tie with Galaxy

João Klauss has 1st career MLS hat trick for St. Louis in 3-3 tie with Galaxy

João Klauss scored three goals — the first hat trick in club history and the 28-year-old’s first in MLS — the last of which came in the fifth minute of stoppage time for St. Louis...

JUNE 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Sporting KC becomes 1st MLS team to win a game without recording a shot on goal

Sporting Kansas City made history in their 1-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Sunday as they became the first team to win an MLS game without...

MAY 5, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Sporting KC becomes 1st MLS team to win a game without recording a shot on goal

Plays 72 minutes Tuesday Nelson (thigh) was in the starting lineup in Tuesday's CONCACAF quarterfinal first leg against Tigres and played 72 minutes confirming he has fully recovered from his injury.

Impact Nelson missed the last two games due to a thigh injury but was back in action in Tuesday's CONCACAF game playing most of the match confirming he is an option for the Galaxy moving forward. That said it is still uncertain if he will return to the starting lineup on Saturday against Salt Lake since he started the first three games of the season while Julian Aude started the last three. A healthy competition between both players will determine who starts.

APRIL 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Uncertain to play Saturday Nelson (thigh) is questionable for Saturday's match against Orlando City, manager Greg Vanney told Alex Ruiz of The Galactic Tribune.

Impact Nelson has been tabbed as "day-to-day" by Vanney, meaning it's uncertain whether he'll be able to play Saturday. The defender missed the 2-2 draw versus Minnesota United the previous weekend due to this same injury. He's been a regular starter when healthy, though, cracking the XI in three of the four games in which he's been available for.

MARCH 27, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable with thigh injury Nelson is questionable for Saturday's match against Minnesota due to a thigh injury.

Impact Nelson has suffered a thigh injury and will not likely need to pass a fitness test ahead of Saturday's match to be an option. He did start in their first three games of the season before going unused in their last, so his absence wouldn't force a change but the club will likely still hope to have him available.

MARCH 21, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Scores beautiful goal Saturday Nelson scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Saturday's 5-0 win against the Rapids.

Impact Nelson is not known for his scoring ability, but he scored an impressive strike Saturday, taking advantage of a pass from Miki Yamane to deliver a finish inside the upper 90 and out of Zack Steffen's reach. This was Nelson's first goal of the season, and it came at a perfect time for LA.

OCTOBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pens two-year deal Nelson signed a two-year contract with LA Galaxy, the club announced.

Impact Nelson was excellent when healthy when he was with St. Louis and now he's headed to LA Galaxy. The defender totaled 17 appearances (14 starts) in 2023, and should take a significant role with the Galaxy in 2024.

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Creates two chances in start Nelson took a shot and created two chances in Wednesday's 3-1 defeat against Real Salt Lake. He also made an interception and won two of two tackles in the match.

Impact Nelson returned to the XI at left-back Wednesday while Kyle Hiebert was suspended, marking his first MLS start in more than a month (not including the postponed Dallas game). Nelson remains a more natural left-back than Hiebert, but is still likely to return to the bench next time out.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returning from suspension Nelson will be eligible to feature in next weekend's clash against the Whitecaps after serving a red card suspension.

Impact Nelson missed Saturday's win over Sporting KC after getting sent off in the previous outing against the Fire, but he should return to the XI at left-back to face Vancouver next weekend.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sent off against Chicago Nelson was shown a red card in the 70th minute of Saturday's clash against the Fire following a foul on Brian Gutierrez for his second booking of the match.

Impact Nelson has started all 12 of St. Louis' MLS matches this season at left-back, but he'll be suspended for next weekend's clash against Sporting KC following his sending off Saturday. Selmir Pidro could replace him in the XI for the game.

MAY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Four clearances in win Nelson made four clearances and an interception in Saturday's 5-1 victory against FC Cincinnati. He also created a chance and recorded a secondary assist in the match.

Impact Nelson had a memorable dribble Saturday to get past multiple defenders in the buildup to St. Louis' second goal against his former team Cincinnati. He has started all eight of City's matches this season at left-back.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Creates chance in win Nelson made two clearances, an interception and created a chance in Saturday's 3-1 victory against Charlotte FC.

Impact Nelson has started both of St. Louis' first two games in MLS, taking a shot, creating a chance and making six combined clearances from left-back.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

2022 MLS expansion draft: St. Louis City SC picks up FC Cincinnati's John Nelson John Nelson started 14 games and made 24 appearances in 2022, his lone season at FC Cincinnati.

NOVEMBER 12, 2022 • CINCINNATI.COM

Assist during start Nelson logged one assist across 90 minutes during a 3-2 loss Saturday versus New England.

Impact Nelson logged two accurate crosses, one of which was headed in for a goal by his FC Cincinnati teammate Brandon Vazquez. The assist contributor is starting regularly now. Fellow left-back Ronald Matarrita will be unavailable across a lot of 2022.

MAY 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

FC Cincinnati sign John Nelson after Re-Entry Draft selection ' MLSSoccer.com TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing FC Cincinnati have signed left back John Nelson for the 2022 MLS season with a club option for 2023, the Or...

JANUARY 6, 2022 • MLSSOCCER.COM

Joins Cincinnati Nelson signed a one-year contract with FC Cincinnati with the option to extend for an additional year, the club announced Thursday.

Impact Nelson made 20 MLS starts and kept four clean sheets during his three years at FC Dallas, but the 23-year-old left back now moves to Cincinnati where he will challenge Ronald Matarrita for a starting spot in the lineup.

JANUARY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Released from Dallas FC Dallas has declined to extend Nelson's contract through 2022, and he will become a free agent at the end of the year.

Impact Nelson kept four clean sheets and assisted a goal in 32 MLS appearances during his two season in Dallas, but the 23-year-old left back never broke into the preferred XI and now enters free agency while dealing with a back injury that has kept him out since August.

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

San Jose hosts FC Dallas in conference action

The San Jose Earthquakes host FC Dallas in Western Conference play

NOVEMBER 5, 2021 • Associated Press

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Lucas Sanabria scores late in stoppage time to rally Galaxy to 1-1 draw with Dynamo

João Klauss has first career MLS hat trick for St. Louis in 3-3 tie with Galaxy

João Klauss has 1st career MLS hat trick for St. Louis in 3-3 tie with Galaxy

Sporting KC becomes 1st MLS team to win a game without recording a shot on goal

San Jose hosts FC Dallas in conference action