IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC announced on Thursday it had signed former LA Galaxy defender Oscar Sorto.  The signing is pending league and federation approval.

A former U.S. U23 international, Sorto joins Orange County after spending the last five years with the Galaxy, and becomes the first player to make the transition from Galaxy to Orange County SC.

“We are excited for Oscar to join our organization,” said Orange County Head Coach Logan Pause. “He is a talented young fullback, who immediately strengthens our team and we are keen to continue his development.”   

A Southern California native, Sorto signed with the Galaxy as a Homegrown Player in 2012 and made his professional debut in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2013 against Costa Rican side CS Cartagines. The 22-year-old went on to make eight appearances for the Galaxy, making his MLS debut against Chivas USA on April 6th 2014.

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Over the past three seasons, Sorto became a regular for the LA Galaxy II. He amassed a total of 57 appearances for Los Dos, and during this time he firmly established himself as one of the leading right backs in the USL. He played a key role in the Galaxy II side that won the 2015 USL Western Conference Championship.

Internationally, Sorto appeared for the U.S. U20s in 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey. He also made eight appearances for the U.S. U23s in the build-up to Olympic Qualifying in 2016, and in January, 2014 received his first call up from Jurgen Klinsmann to the senior U.S. Men’s National Team.