Robbie Rogers will join LA Galaxy, become first openly gay male athlete in pro team sports

Robbie Rogers will be the first openly gay male athlete in major American professional team sports. The price for him was steep. LA Galaxy had to give up leading scorer Mike Magee to reportedly acquire the U.S. international from the Chicago Fire.

By Kim McCauley@lgbtqfc May 24, 2013, 10:02pm EDT

The Los Angeles Galaxy have reportedly completed a trade with the Chicago Fire for the rights of Robbie Rogers, who looks set to join the team. Rogers announced that he is gay back in February. Presumably, he will suit up for the Galaxy and play in a game shortly, making him the first openly gay athlete to compete in men's major American team sports. A former MLS player, David Testo, announced that he is gay after leaving Major League Soccer, while NBA center Jason Collins announced that he is gay following this NBA season.

According to USA Today, Rogers has already agreed to a contract with the Galaxy. The price for the United States international was steep; Mike Magee, the Galaxy's leading scorer, will head to the Fire. Steven Goff had the news of the trade.

It's happening, 2nd source says: Magee for Rogers, straight up #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 25, 2013

Magee had an excellent 2012 season and was a big part of LA's MLS Cup run, and has been their best attacking player this season in the absence of Landon Donovan, who has played just six games after missing the start of the season while taking time off. Chicago Fire maintained that they acquired Rogers because they saw him as a future impact player for them, not simply because he was a trade chip, and they stood firm to get fair value for him. Rogers has stated that he had no interest in playing for the Fire, and that he wanted to play in LA to be close to friends and family.

According to Goff, Magee also wanted to be in Chicago to be close to family, so the trade makes sense for both players and teams.

Magee "wanted and needed" to be back in hometown Chicago, so deal makes sense on personal level for both players, I'm told #mls
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 25, 2013

Rogers has been training with the Galaxy and will presumably be ready to make their 18-man gameday squad as soon as he is registered. He many not be as productive as Magee immediately, but LA seems willing to take the rist that Rogers will return to the form that he enjoyed as a Columbus Crew player before he departed for Leeds United.

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