Los Angeles FC on August 4, 2025 officially announced the signing of 26-year-old Scotland centre-back Ryan Porteous from EFL Championship side Watford, locking him in through 2028, with a club option for 2029.
The Black & Gold dispatched $100,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money to Toronto FC for Porteous’s discovery priority rights. The contract underscores Porteous’s expected role in fortifying a defence left depleted after captain Aaron Long’s season-ending Achilles tendon rupture in mid-July.
Background: A rock from Dalkeith
- Porteous’s rise began in his native Dalkeith, rising through the Hibernian academy, debuting in 2017. He made 120 senior appearances for Hibs, tallying 11 goals and nine assists before a £450,000 move to Watford in January 2023.
- At Watford, he featured regularly—76 league appearances (68 starts)—scoring seven goals and five assists across all competitions. In January 2025, he joined Preston North End on loan, playing 11 games with one goal, before bypassing Hibs in the summer.
Internationally, Porteous has earned 13 caps and one goal for Scotland since debuting in a 3–0 win over Cyprus during UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying.
A timely reinforcement
LAFC’s move comes shortly after veteran centre-half Aaron Long—a three-year fixture in LA’s defence—suffered a rotten Achilles rupture during a win over FC Dallas on July 13, ruling him out for the season. The club has leaned on Nkosi Tafari and youth options such as Kenny Nielsen, but viewed Porteous as an upgrade in readiness and experience.
LAFC co-president and GM John Thorrington hailed the signing:
“We’re excited to welcome Ryan to LAFC. He brings competitiveness, leadership qualities and the type of mentality we value at this club. His experience at both the international and club level, along with his defensive intensity and ability to play out of the back, will be a great addition to our group as we push toward our goals this season.”
The fit: Why Porteous makes sense
- Leadership and ruggedness: Porteous has captained Hibs and Scotland youth sides, earning a reputation as an aggressive, vocal organiser in high-pressure matches.
- Ball-playing central defender: Comfortable with building from the back—aligned with LAFC’s possession-oriented style under coach Steve Cherundolo.
- Match-hardened in physically demanding leagues: With 274 professional games across Scottish Premiership and the English Championship, Porteous brings stamina and mental resolve.
LAFC market positioning and ambitions
This transfer reflects LAFC’s aggressive approach to the summer window, following a string of earlier acquisitions like Igor Jesus and Nkosi Tafari. With current form at 9–5–5 and sitting sixth in the Western Conference, they remain in the hunt for a top-four playoff spot. Reinforcing defence is seen as key to sustaining challenges across MLS regular season, the Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup.
Thorrington’s strategy: fill holes with cost-effective signings. Watford In addition to undisclosed reimbursement to Watford, the only direct cash outlay was modest GAM to Toronto—consistent with LAFC’s financial finesse and creative use of MLS roster mechanisms. Watford
Porteous: strengths, cautions, and what’s next
- On-field profile: His aerial dominance, positional discipline, and a physical brand of defending will be an asset, especially late-game. Yet he does carry a disciplinary history—in national and domestic matches—requiring management under deeper scrutiny .
- Integration timeline: Porteous is expected to link up immediately in training; assuming ITC and P‑1 visa issuance, he could debut in the upcoming Leagues Cup Phase Two or return from international window duty with Scotland.
Verdict: Strategic depth in a defining moment
This is Porteous’s first experience outside the UK, but it makes sense for both parties: LAFC gets a tested centre-back; Porteous gets international growth and a platform under global media light. For a club rebuilding on the fly—adjusting to key departures like Long—this is a shrewd and timely reinforcement.
In the broader sweep, Porteous’s arrival signals a club intent on challenging for sunk titles—MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and regional honours—without relying solely on big-name signings. As LAFC’s captain Reggie Cannon once told a youth team: no signings guarantee success—each must earn it. On Friday, Porteous earned his. Watford
Bottom line: LAFC have addressed their centre‑back crisis with a signature MLS-style move—under-the-radar in cost, high in experience, and perfectly timed. Whether Ryan Porteous becomes a long-term pillar or short-term stop-gap, he now steps into one of MLS’s most competitive defensive environments with everything to prove. Watford
