Galaxy defender and captain Maya Yoshida is returning, signing a new two-year contract through the end of the 2026 season. Yoshida, 36, who was out of contract after last season, started all 40 games. He played all but 24 minutes in the Galaxy’s 34 regular-season games. “We are thrilled to announce that our captain is back,” General Manager Will Kuntz said in a statement. “Maya has been an outstanding leader and teammate since his arrival to the club, and he is the embodiment of what it means to be a Galaxy player. “His character, competitiveness and consistency were the foundation of our MLS Cup winning campaign. We look forward to being a further part of his storied career.” Yoshida joined the Galaxy late in the 2023 season after a stellar career in Europe at Schalke, Sampdoria and Southampton, along with three World Cup tournaments with Japan. Yoshida was voted the Galaxy’s Defender of the Year, anchoring a backline that made dramatic improvements from 2023 as the club regrouped to win its sixth MLS Cup in December. Related Articles Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy trades Jalen Neal to Montreal for allocation money, international roster slot Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy selects Michigan’s Jason Bucknor in first round of MLS SuperDraft Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy trades MLS Cup MVP Gastón Brugman for Nashville SC’s Sean Davis Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy, LAFC kick off 2025 MLS season with February home games Los Angeles Galaxy | Galaxy receives first-round bye in CONCACAF Champions Cup Terms of the deal weren’t announced. Last year, Yoshida had a base salary of $800,000 and a guaranteed compensation figure of $893,334. The Galaxy recently announced the signing of another defender, Mathias Jorgensen, who signed a two-year contract and will join MLS after a career in Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands and Turkey.