Jermaine Jones signs with LA Galaxy ahead of 2017 MLS season

Jermaine Jones has joined the Los Angeles Galaxy ahead of the 2017 MLS season after spending last season with Colorado, the club announced on Wednesday.

The Galaxy traded its first pick in the 2017 SuperDraft and general allocation money for the rights to Jones at the end of 2016 and then used targeted allocation money to sign the veteran midfielder, who was on the Revolution team that lost to LA in the MLS Cup final in 2014.

New LA manager Curt Onalfo said of Jones: "He has a relentless engine on the field and we are confident that he will strengthen our midfield. We look forward to him joining the Galaxy as we prepare for the upcoming season."

The 35-year-old Jones signed for the New England Revolution from Turkish club Besiktas in 2014 and spent two seasons there before being traded to the Colorado Rapids ahead of the 2016 season.

And Jones, who has a home in Los Angeles and family living there as well, said he was surprised and intrigued when his agent first mentioned there was a good chance he could play for the Galaxy.

"I think it's a good thing for the whole family," said Jones. "It was a real good option there and so we said straight away if the opportunity came up we were going to take it.

"LA is for me the number one franchise in MLS and so to be a part to go back to win championships there it's exciting."

Jones also played in the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt and Schalke 04, among others, and is a member of the U.S. national team.

The Galaxy lost Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane at the end of last season, as well as manager Bruce Arena who left for a second stint as national team boss in December 2016.