Report: Trade in the works with LAFC for Tomas Romero’s homegrown rights

Philadelphia Union Academy alum Tomas Romero is getting closer to starting his professional career but on the West Coast instead of with his hometown club.

Steven Goff of the Washington Post reported Thursday that multiple sources have indicated that a deal is close to send Romero’s homegrown rights from the Philadelphia Union to LAFC.

The 20-year-old from Cherry Hill, N.J. played the first half of a friendly for Philadelphia Union II in November and has been training with the team since the Big East season was canceled in the fall.

An El Salvador youth international, Romero has extensive experience in the USL Championship, making 17 professional appearances before heading to college at Georgetown. He won a national championship with the Hoyas last December, the program’s first, clinching the victory with a save in a penalty shootout against Virginia.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Kalil ElMedkhar recently had his homegrown rights traded to FC Dallas for $50,000 in general allocation money plus additional allocation if certain performance metrics are met. The Union would also receive a percentage of any future sell-on fees.