Why the LA Galaxy should notice the Houston Dynamo's newest goalkeeper | OneFootball

Much like this current season, the 2023 MLS regular season was also a rough one for the Los Angeles Galaxy. After winning just eight games that year, General Manager Will Kuntz elected to make a series of aggressive moves that offseason.

One of those transactions brought in current goalkeeper John McCarthy. The LA Galaxy pried his services away from in-town rival LAFC.

Within the next month, the team decided to move on from one 'Jon' and go with a different 'John.' The 2022 MLS Cup Finals MVP would go on to replace the previous starting keeper Jonathan Bond.

Bond not only departed the LA Galaxy but MLS, altogether. He would sign with Watford FC and play overseas in his native country.

So, where is Jonathan Bond playing at now?

Ahead of this weekend's contest between the six-time MLS Cup winners and the Houston Dynamo, the LA Galaxy's opponent recently added Bond to their roster.

During his three years with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Bond appeared in 93 total games across all competitions. He helped lead the team to a postseason appearance during the 2022 MLS season.

After a disappointing 2023 season and missing the playoffs again, the change was made and Bond no longer was a member of the team.

According to the Houston Dynamo's team site, Bond "signed to a contract through 2026 with a club option for 2027 and will occupy a domestic roster spot as a season-ending injury replacement player for Andrew Tarbell."

The LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo already have a storied history. The Galaxy won their first two MLS Cup titles in 2002 and 2005. The Dynamo won their first ever one the next season.

In back-to-back MLS championship games, the LA Galaxy knocked off Houston in 2011 and 2012. This would put Los Angeles in the record books as the third franchise to win consecutive titles. DC United did so in 1996 & 1997. Houston did so in 2006 & 2007.

First year LA Galaxy forward Christian Ramirez leads the team in scoring with three goals this season. He is a former Dynamo player. With Bond joining the Galaxy's opponent this Saturday, the stage is set for an interesting meeting between the two clubs at Dignity Health Sports Park.

McCarthy could potentially be playing against the keeper he replaced. Bond could extract revenge against the LA Galaxy and be a force in stopping the defending MLS champs from earning their first win in 2025.