Nashville SC trade for winger Tyler Boyd

NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC announced on Saturday that they have acquired winger Tyler Boyd from the LA Galaxy.

Boyd, 29, played one season in Los Angeles, scoring eight goals and five assists in 39 games. Prior to joining the Galaxy, Boyd spent time in Turkey with Ankaragücü, Beşiktaş, Sivasspor, and Çaykur Rizespor, as well as Portugal (Vitória SC and Tondela), Australia (Wellington Phoenix) and New Zealand (Waikato FC and Melville United). In all, Boyd has 32 goals and 17 assists in 208 matches.

Born in New Zealand, Boyd played five times for the Kiwis before he filed a one-time switch to represent the United States in May 2019. He made his USMNT debut in June 2019, and has made 10 appearances, scoring twice. His most recent match with the USMNT came in the 2019 Concacaf Nations League.

“Tyler is an outstanding attacking player who has proven the ability to create and finish scoring chances in MLS, abroad, and with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He is a great fit on and off the field, and we are excited to add him to our group,” said Mike Jacobs, General Manager with Nashville SC, in the club’s press release.  

To acquire Boyd, Nashville sent the LA Galaxy a sizeable package; a 2024 international roster spot, a 2025 international roster spot, $75k in 2024 General Allocation Money, $75k in 2025 GAM, and up to $650 in conditional GAM if Boyd meets certain performance-based metrics. All told, the Galaxy could receive as much as $775,000 in GAM from the deal.

After Fafà Picault’s departure as a free agent, Nashville badly needed a goal-dangerous and dynamic winger. They should have that in Boyd, who turns 29 on the day of the trade. He’s pacey, has a dangerous right foot, and can play anywhere across the front line. He’s also a strong ball-carrier, something Picault added last season.

As part of the deal, Nashville have signed Boyd to a new contract through the 2026 season, with a further option for 2027. Boyd was out of contract with LA Galaxy at the end of the 2023 season, but since he hadn’t met the minimum requirements under MLS free agency rules, the Galaxy were able to retain his rights simply by submitting a “bona fide offer”, which has to be 10% more than the previous contract. Boyd made $350,000 in guaranteed compensation in 2023, although with a new long-term contract signed in Music City, it’s likely he’ll make a good bit more in 2024.

Nashville have bet heavily on Boyd to upgrade their attack, and he certainly has the potential to do so.