NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC have made their second move of the summer transfer window, bringing in winger Jonathan Pérez on loan from the LA Galaxy. The deal for the 21-year-old Mexican youth international includes a purchase option, which sources indicate reaches as high as $1 million in General Allocation Money.
The loan runs through the 2024 season. Nashville have the option to extend the loan through the 2025 season, in exchange for the priority rights to 2023 third-round SuperDraft selection Lyam MacKinnon. Nashville also have the option to exercise a purchase option at any point during the loan.
Pérez is a product of the LA Galaxy youth academy, where he played from 2016 to 2020. He made his debut with the first team on May 3, 2021 as a homegrown player, making a total of 16 appearances since them. So far in 2024, he’s played six times for the Galaxy, tying his previous season high, with his last appearance coming in a June 15 win over Sporting KC.
Jonathan Perez 21 y/o attacker on loan from the Galaxy with a purchase option
— Nashville SC Stats (@NSC_Stats) July 30, 2024
1a in 300 MLS minutes
10g 13a in 3,681 NP minutes
He was really good in Next Pro but has struggled for minutes at the next level. Good role piece and a good investment
(Left is NP. Right is MLS) pic.twitter.com/520L1Hxe1B
With a wealth of attacking options in attack for the Galaxy, Pérez has found most of his professional minutes with LA Galaxy II in the USL Championship and later MLS NEXT Pro. In 47 appearances, Pérez logged 10 matches, including six goals and two assists in just 846 minutes in his debut season.
Pérez has also played extensively for the Mexican youth national teams, after initially representing the United States at the U-16 level. Pérez has been capped four times at the U-23 level, as well as playing for Mexico in the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championships.
Pérez is an interesting signing for Nashville SC. He fits the Mike Jacobs mold of signing underutilized players from other clubs who Nashville believe have potential to play bigger roles for them. With players like Joseph Paintsil, Gabriel Pec, Diego Fagundez and reportedly Marco Reus all ahead of him in the pecking order, Pérez’s path to more minutes in LA seemed narrow. Nashville, meanwhile, need depth on the wings after Tyler Boyd’s season-ending injury, and Pérez provides a more goal-dangerous option than the players currently in the squad. He is signed as a Season Ending Injury replacement player.
At 21, Pérez would be one of the youngest members of the squad and the youngest player to appear in a match after homegrown Isaiah Jones. With Nashville making a concerted push to develop and play younger players, Pérez is a high-potential option who comes at a low price in an area of need.
The loan is finalized and will be officially announced once league approval is finalized. Pérez is expected to be available for selection for tomorrow’s Leagues Cup match against Mazatlán FC.
