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LA Galaxy trade Gyasi Zardes to Crew in exchange for Ola Kamara

Mike Carlson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The LA Galaxy have traded U.S. international attacker Gyasi Zardes to the Columbus Crew in exchange for Ola Kamara and $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.

The deal also includes an additional $100,000 in TAM, contingent on Kamara scoring 12 or more goals for the LA Galaxy. The production is what head coach Sigi Schmid will hope for, as the once-mighty Galaxy finished 2017 dead last with only 45 goals scored, fifth-fewest in the league.

"We are very excited to bring Ola to Los Angeles," Schmid said in a club-issued statement. "He has been one of the league's most productive forwards during his two seasons in MLS and we believe he will be a great fit in our attack. We look forward to him joining our squad."

Kamara tallied 35 goals in 64 total regular- and post-season matches, 19 of which came last campaign - the same amount as Romain Alessandrini and Giovani Dos Santos scored in 2017. The Norway international will hope for similar production in 2018, while Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter will look to reinspire Zardes to his top form.

The 26-year-old had a blistering 2014 campaign, scoring 17 times in 37 games but has since declined, notching just two goals in 2017. Still, Berhalter believes Zardes can rediscover his best in a new environment, even if the Crew's future in MLS is up in the air amid the prospect of a potential move to Austin, Texas.

"We are excited to welcome Gyasi to Columbus," Berhalter said in a club-issued statement. "Gyasi is a talented forward that has been successful in this League and with the U.S. men's national team. He is a high-character individual and has a bright future in Major League Soccer and with our club.

"In addition to what we know Gyasi will bring to our playing system, we have received significant additional resources to help the club as we build our roster for the 2018 campaign. We want to thank Ola for his two successful seasons with our club and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his career."

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