Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) signed Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien on loan through 2024 with an option to make the deal permanent. O’Brien will have a chance to train in LAFC’s midfield at an opportune time when the club is on break from league play to participate in the Leagues Cup before the restart of MLS and Open Cup in late August.
Welcome to Los Angeles, @Lewis_OBrien98 💪 pic.twitter.com/H4XF1V8Kr6
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 30, 2024
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Lewis to Los Angeles,” LAFC co-President and general manager John Thorrington said. “He is a dynamic, versatile midfielder with qualities we know will complement an already strong group of midfielders and will help in our pursuit of trophies. I would also like to thank Nottingham Forest and his representative, Kevin Sharp, for their professionalism throughout the process.”
O'Brien will be added to the roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa. LAFC acquired his Right of First Refusal from D.C. United where he appeared in 17 matches in 2023 in exchange for $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM).
The 25-year-old Englishman made 17 appearances for Nottingham after being signed in the summer of 2022 before he was loaned out to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in January 2023. The deal fell through at which point he was loaned out to Wayne Rooney’s United. Last season he was on loan to Middlesbrough also in the Championship and he made 25 appearances for them across all competitions.
His addition to the Black and Gold signify the deep intention LAFC have of competing with intention across multiple title runs anticipating a need to boost their depth. LAFC are currently second behind LA Galaxy in the Western conference with two games in hand.