LAFC announced Wednesday it has signed star forward Denis Bouanga to a contract extension through 2028, with an option through the 2029-30 season.
Since arriving to LAFC in 2022 on a reported $5 million transfer from Saint-Étienne in France’s second division, Bouanga has established himself as one of MLS’s best players. Bouanga scored twice in the MLS playoffs to help LAFC to the 2022 MLS Cup title, then followed that up by winning the 2023 Golden Boot with 20 goals. It was his first of three consecutive seasons scoring 20 goals or more, the first player in MLS history to do so.
A three-time MLS Best XI selection and three-time MLS All-Star, Bouanga surpassed Carlos Vela last season as LAFC’s top goalscorer — he now has 105 goals and 43 assists in 155 appearances. Bouanga also finished in the top three of MLS MVP voting twice in the past three seasons.
Bouanga, 31, was at the center of multiple major transfer offers this winter transfer window. LAFC turned down a reported $15 million bid from Brazilian side Fluminense and also turned down a $13 million bid from MLS rival Inter Miami.
The striker, who was born in France and plays for Gabon’s national team, made $3 million last year, per the MLS Players Association salary release, making him the 24th-highest paid player in MLS on base salary.
“At this club, performance matters,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said in a statement. “Denis has delivered at an elite level with historic consistency since the day he arrived, and he has helped us win multiple trophies. This new contract reflects that. We’re proud of what he’s accomplished here and are motivated to continue building on that success together.”
In The Athletic’s 2026 survey of chief soccer officers around the league, Bouanga was voted as the most talented player in the league not named Lionel Messi or Son Heung-min. He remains one of the most dangerous players in MLS and a big reason why LAFC is considered a top contender for MLS Cup this season.
Bouanga hasn’t taken long to continue showing his abilities and build upon his chemistry with Son. He scored a hat trick in a Concacaf Champions Cup game against Honduran side Real España and netted again in the season-opening win over Inter Miami.
“I’m grateful to LAFC for the trust they’ve shown in me,” Bouanga said in the club’s press release. “From the beginning, my family and I have felt at home in Los Angeles. It’s an honor to represent this club and our supporters every time I put on the jersey. I believe in what we are building here, and I’m motivated to keep improving, winning more trophies, and helping this club reach even higher.”