Carlos Vela has told the media that he hopes he can be the best player in the MLS, ahead of his move to newly formed Los Angeles Football Club.

The California-based side were initially formed in 2014, but haven’t yet joined the MLS, with the aim of starting in 2018, coached by former USMNT and Swansea City coach Bob Bradley.

Vela joins midfielders Carlos Alvarez and Monday Etim (both on loan at Orange County SC for now) as the first players to join the team.

Carlos has spent the last six years with Real Sociedad, after a year-long loan spell turned into a permanent deal with the Spanish club. Before that, he spent seven years at Arsenal, coming through the youth ranks with the Gunners.

The winger made 62 appearances for the Arsenal first team and went on four loans before leaving in 2012. He scored three in 29 in the league but had much more success in the cup competitions, scoring six and assisting six in his 16 cup appearances.

At one point it seemed as though Vela might return to North London, when a run of good form led to rumours that Arsenal might activate the £3.5m clause in his contract to bring him back. However Sociedad paid £8.8m, plus £4m in possible bonuses, to Arsenal to keep him at the club.

But now he’s leaving for America, and has been quoted in a press conference saying: “I want to be the best player in the MLS.”

If he can replicate the form that almost brought him back to Arsenal in 2014, when he scored or assisted 34 goals in 52 games, he’ll have a great chance.