Brighton Midfielder Andrew Moran Joins LAFC on Loan

Andrew Moran, the 21-year-old Republic of Ireland international and Brighton midfielder, has joined Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC on loan until January 2026. This marks his third loan move from Brighton, following stints at Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City, where he gained valuable Championship experience. LAFC, currently positioned within the MLS Western Conference playoff spots, recently bolstered their squad with former Tottenham stars Heung-Min Son and Hugo Lloris, adding to the appeal for Moran to develop alongside established players. The move is viewed as an unconventional but promising opportunity for Moran to gain first-team minutes in a new environment and contribute to a club aiming for silverware in the MLS playoffs. Brighton technical director David Weir expressed optimism about Moran testing himself in a new league and culture, while Ireland fans see Moran as a potential solution to midfield depth issues in the national team. Moran's move reflects a growing trend of young European players exploring MLS to accelerate their development amid competitive challenges for first-team places in Europe.