LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Sunday it had reached an agreement with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer for the transfer of midfielder Elijah Wynder to the reigning Major League Soccer champions. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The transfer agreement marks the largest fee received by a USL Championship club in a domestic transfer. It follows a season in which Wynder was voted the USL Championship’s Young Player of the Year and to the Championship All-League Second Team. The 21-year-old made a career-high 35 appearances for LouCity in the 2024 campaign, logging six goals, one assist and 27 chances created in 2,961 minutes of action.

Wynder played a key role as Louisville City earned the USL Championship Players’ Shield for the first time while setting league records for home victories (16) and goals (58).

“This move is something I’m very excited about,” said Wynder. “It’s what I’ve been working toward my whole career, so I can’t wait to get started. At the same time, Louisville is home, and Louisville City is an unbelievable place with fans, staff and teammates who I consider family. It won’t be easy to leave all of this. However, I’ve been blessed with an opportunity that I can’t pass up. I just want to thank God for giving me this chance and everyone who has helped me along the way.”

Wynder became the first player to sign a USL Academy contract with Louisville City in 2019 and made his First Team debut in that year’s edition of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Wynder went on to make his USL Championship debut in 2020 before signing professional terms with the club.

After suffering a season-ending injury early in the 2021 season, Wynder returned to action in 2022 on loan at FC Tucson in USL League One before returning to make an impact on LouCity’s fourth Eastern Conference title in club history, scoring the game-winning goal in extra time against the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs.

Overall, Wynder has recorded 79 appearances for Louisville City across the Championship’s regular season and playoffs, recording 11 goals, two assists and 79 chances created while establishing himself as one of the USL Championship’s top young talents.

"I want to thank Elijah for everything he’s done for this club,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz.” I’ve been fortunate to work with Elijah since he was 16 years old, and I am incredibly proud of the player and young man he has become. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a player of his caliber, but I hope this serves as more evidence that when you’re performing at a high level for Louisville City, big clubs are watching.

“We’re wishing Elijah nothing but the best. The sky is the limit for him, and wherever his career leads, he’ll carry with him the roots of a strong Louisville City support system.”

Wynder’s move to the Galaxy adds to the Wynder family legacy at LouCity. Elijah’s younger brother and former LouCity teammate Josh Wynder commanded seven figures – the highest fee in USL Championship history – when making his summer 2023 transfer to Portuguese power S.L. Benfica.

Elijah Wynder becomes the seventh player transferred by Louisville City FC domestically and overseas since Jonathan Gomez’s transfer early in 2022 to Real Sociedad, the most of any club in the USL Championship over that span.

“Elijah Wynder’s record-setting transfer from Louisville City to the LA Galaxy is another landmark moment for the USL Championship,” said USL Head of Global Football Development & Sporting Director Oliver Wyss. “Elijah’s progression from being LouCity’s first professional signing from its academy program to the 2024 USL Championship Young Player of the Year is a clear illustration of the talent that exists within the USL’s professional and academy ecosystem.

“Louisville City’s investment in its academy program has been a driver in the club’s First Team success. The club has also become an astute participant in the transfer market, commanding market price for the top-quality talent it has moved onto higher levels both domestically and overseas.”