European dream over? 'Chucky' Lozano's Move to San Diego FC could mark the end of his career in Europe

SEATTLE - San Diego FC, the new Major League Soccer franchise set to enter the league as an expansion team in 2025, wants to make Hirving "Chucky" Lozano its first designated-player next season, according to a report by The Athletic's Tom Bogert,

"Chucky" moved to the Netherlands' PSV in 2017 from Mexico's Pachuca. Lozano spent two seasons with the Eredivisie team before moving to Serie A with Napoli.

After four seasons at Napoli, Lozano returned to PSV in search of more playing time. But just one season into his second spell in the Netherlands, "Chucky" is already looking for a fresh start elsewhere. According to Bogert, the MLS expansion team is in advanced talks to sign the Mexican international. In order to get it done, San Diego would need to pay PSV a fee close to $12 million.

Lozano started his professional career with Pachuca, quickly becoming one of Mexico's brightest prospects due to his incredible speed and ability to create spaces in attack. Lozano won an Eredivisie title with PSV during his first spell at the club and is poised to add another one this season, as the team needs just one more point to secure their 25th league title.

"Chucky" had a fairly successful stint with Napoli, helping the 'Partenopei' win their first Serie A title since 1990. But due to changes in management and a lack of form, Lozano quickly lost his place in the team's starting XI, which prompted his return to Dutch soccer.

According to the reports, San Diego hopes to finalize the deal before the Copa América kicks off this Summer, as Lozano is expected to play a key role in Mexico's hopes during the tournament.

Since making his debut with Mexico in 2016, "Chucky" has played in 70 games for "El Tri" and scored 18 goals. His best moment with Mexico took place during the 2018 World Cup when he scored the winning goal of Mexico's 1-0 victory against Germany.

With less than one year before they enter MLS, San Diego has just three players currently on their payroll and will hope to make Lozano their fourth addition. In case of reaching a deal with PSV, "Chucky" would become the latest Mexican star to leave Europe for an adventure in Major League Soccer.

One of the most recent examples of this was Carlos Vela, who joined then expansion team LAFC in 2018. Javier "Chicharito" Hernández also continued the trend in 2020, when he left Sevilla for a designated-player spot in the Los Angeles Galaxy. Fellow "El Tri" teammate Héctor Herrera is the latest Mexican to leave his European dream for MLS, when he joined the Houston Dynamo as a designated-player in 2022.

If San Diego completes the signing of Lozano, "Chucky" would be the third active Mexican player to join MLS as a DP, joining Herrera and Sporting KC's Alan Pulido.