Los Angeles FC officially ended all remaining speculation on Wednesday night as three-time MLS Best XI forward Denis Bouanga signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2028, with an option covering the 2029–30 seasons.
The Gabon international, who is also LAFC’s all-time top scorer, had been strongly linked with a move away in recent months after offers of more than $15 million were submitted by Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense and big-spending Inter Miami.
Since arriving from France’s AS Saint-Étienne in 2022, Bouanga has become a central figure for LAFC. He formed a lethal partnership with Son Heung-min after the former Tottenham star joined MLS last summer, creating one of the most dangerous attacking duos in the league.
Bouanga and Son combined for six goals across 13 matches to close out 2025. Individually, Bouanga recorded 24 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances, while Son contributed nine goals and three assists in just ten games.
That output helped drive LAFC through the 2025 campaign, alongside a squad featuring Canadian international Mathieu Choinière and compatriots Thomas Hasal and Ryan Raposo. The Black and Gold reached the MLS Western Conference semi-finals, where they were eliminated on penalties by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Beyond securing Bouanga’s future, LAFC have strengthened their roster — particularly with Canadian talent — over the winter.
Along with appointing Dos Santos as head coach and keeping Choinière, Hasal and Raposo, LAFC brought in Stephen Eustáquio on a short-term loan. The Canadian midfielder left FC Porto in search of regular playing time ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The club also acquired Nova Scotia winger Jacob Shaffelburg in a trade with Nashville SC.
Eustáquio made an immediate impression in Los Angeles, providing a superb assist for Son, who then set up David Martinez in a match against the reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami.
As things stand, Bouanga’s influence and star quality can only benefit LAFC’s growing Canadian core — whether that means scoring crucial goals for Dos Santos’ side, finishing chances created by Eustáquio and Choinière, or supplying Raposo and Shaffelburg from wide areas when they come off the bench.
