Mensah swaps Crew for Quakes & LAFC sign Tillman

With the 2023 MLS season fast approaching, teams are hard at work strengthening their rosters ahead of the big kick-off.

Here’s all the big moves you may have missed over the last couple of days:

With Brazilian defender Nathan suffering an ACL injury, it was vital the San Jose Earthquakes bolstered their options at center-back.

In Jonathan Mensah, they have acquired a player with 175 games under his belt and MLS Cup and Campeones Cup titles during his time with the Columbus Crew.

The Quakes will pay up to $500k in General Allocation Money (GAM) for Mensah’s services, with $200k guaranteed across the next two seasons.

“Nathan’s unfortunate injury left a significant hole at a precarious time in our preseason that we didn’t hesitate to address quickly,” Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch said in a club press release. “We knew we needed to bring in a player of significant quality and experience to compete at the highest level in MLS.

“We feel very fortunate and excited to bring in Jonathan, who has been named MLS Best XI, has captained an MLS Cup-winning side, and who knows what it takes to perform and be a leader for a competitive team in MLS. His leadership and success in Major League Soccer will be invaluable to our squad as we approach the 2023 regular season and his qualities as a human being will positively impact our organization and community.”

LAFC have bolstered their midfield with the signing of Timothy Tillman from 2. Bundesliga side Greuther Fürth.

Tillman – the older brother of USMNT and Rangers star Malik Tillman – has signed a three-year contract through the 2025 MLS season with a club option on 2026. He joins after notching two goals and six assists in 86 games across Germany’s top two levels, including during a loan spell with 1. FC Nürnberg.

“Timothy is a dynamic, versatile midfielder with incredible experience in one of the top leagues in the world,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “We are excited to welcome him to LA as we firmly believe he will contribute immediately and help in our ambitions to win more trophies.”

Austin FC have added…