LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Wednesday a pair of new signings including forward Jose Villarreal, formerly of the LA Galaxy. Also joining the side is experienced midfielder Jesus Gonzalez, and both players will be available for selection Wednesday night’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Third Round match against Orange County FC.

Villareal signed a Homegrown Player contract with the Galaxy in December 2011, making his Major League Soccer debut aged 17 years old and scoring his first MLS goal against Vancouver Whitecaps FC in only his second match in the top flight. After being on loan with Liga MX giant Cruz Azul for the first semester of 2014, Villareal returned to Southern California where he split time between Galaxy’s MLS team and their USL Championship side through 2017 before being traded to Orlando City SC. “Chepe” was a part of the Lions’ roster during the 2018 season and now is ready to make his 2019 debut with Las Vegas.

“It means a lot, it's a second go at it for me and I'm happy to be here, I'm excited,” said Villareal, who made 40 appearances and recorded seven goals and eight assists for the Galaxy II in the Championship previously. “I'm pumped to meet Coach Wynalda and to get to work with him and a bunch of guys that I know from growing up with them in Los Angeles.”

“Jose has always been an extremely talented player,” said Lights FC Manager Eric Wynalda. “We're the perfect place for him, watching him last year in Orlando City and he did not get a lot of minutes, I think he was frustrated with that. Now he's motivated, but it's going to take time for him to readjust and acclimate to Las Vegas. But this is a guy that brings quality into the team.”

While this is the first time that Villareal will be coached by Wynalda, for Gonzalez this is a reunion with his former manager. Gonzalez was part of Wynalda’s success in the Open Cup both in 2012 with Cal FC and in 2014 with the Atlanta Silverbacks, playing in each of the upset wins that both teams had against Major League Soccer wins in the tournament.

“He was a part of that initial Cal FC movement in 2012, Jesus is a player that is very versatile and who impressed me then … he's still the same player,” said Wynalda. “He has one of the best left feet I've ever seen, and that's saying something. There's not a lot of guys that can hit a ball 60 yards on a rope and be that accurate. And the way that we need to play, to vary our attack, it suits him perfectly.”

Gonzalez’s excitement was evident after signing his Lights FC contract, having been training with the club on trial since early in the season.

“It's a big opportunity for me, I'm trying to take advantage of it,” said Gonzalez. “I'm trying to help the team win, help better myself. I'm all about the team, so if I can help them, then I'm doing my job.”