LOS ANGELES – It’s official. The LA Galaxy announced Tuesday it had signed Javier “Chicharito” Hernández to a Designated Player contract.

Hernández is Mexico’s all-time leading goal-scorer and joins the Galaxy following time with Chivas de Guadalajara, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, West Ham and most recently, Sevilla. He has scored more than 200 goals during his career for club and country.

His signing gives the LA market two Mexican international strikers as 2019 MLS Golden Boot winner Carlos Vela toils for nearby the LA Football Club.

The 31-year-old Hernandez reportedly will be the highest-paid player in the league.

“I’m arriving with the best club in MLS, so I’m very excited about this. I’m simply ready to finally put the shirt on,” Hernandez said in a statement. “I want to achieve a lot of things with the LA Galaxy because that’s what prove and show. I signed with this club for [four seasons] so imagine four more stars on this badge. It’ll be awesome.”

Chicharito has appeared in more than 400 matches across top-flight leagues in Mexico, England, Spain and Germany in addition to appearing in over 100 international games for Mexico. He has tallied 156 goals for club and 52 goals for his country, the most of any Mexico international. Since 2006, Hernandez has represented sides that have captured two Premier League titles (2011, 2013), the Mexican Primera División: Apertura (2006), the FIFA Club World Cup (2014), the Concacaf Gold Cup (2011) and Concacaf Cup (2015).

He has been honored as Concacaf men’s player of the year (2015), Concacaf Best XI (2015) and Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Boot and MVP (2011) and was named to the Bundesliga team of the season (2015-16).

“Javier has consistently scored goals in top leagues throughout the world and has been his country’s most successful player over the last decade,” Galaxy general manager Dennis te Kloese said in a statement. “He is a competitor who has proven success at the highest level and has scored the most goals ever of one of the best teams in Concacaf. We think he can be one of Major League Soccer’s best attacking threats and help our team in multiple ways. We are excited to bring Javier to Los Angeles and we look forward to him representing this city and our fans as a member of the LA Galaxy.”

Hernández began his career as a professional with Chivas Guadalajara in 2006 after nearly a decade in their youth system. After scoring 26 goals for the Liga MX side, he secured a transfer to the Premier League with Manchester United in 2010.

“The LA Galaxy continue to pursue top talent across the world that will improve our team,” Galaxy president Chris Klein said in a statement. “Javier is one of most successful players in our region and an iconic figure in this community. The LA Galaxy have represented Los Angeles and have been the benchmark in Major League Soccer since 1996, and our pursuit of the world’s best players for our club will continue to play a part in our success. We are excited to add Javier to our club and look forward to him representing the LA Galaxy in our stadium and in the Los Angeles community.”

Chicharito has enjoyed the most successful career in El Tri history, with 52 goals in 109 appearances across the World Cup (2010, 2014, 2018), World Cup qualifying matches, Concacaf Gold Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup, Copa América Centenario and friendly matches. He made his Mexico debut in 2009 against Colombia and scored his first two goals for Mexico vs. Bolivia on Feb. 24, 2010. In three separate World Cup tournaments, Hernández has recorded four goals, in addition to eight goals during 1ualifying matches. His 52 international goals surpass Jared Borgetti (46), Cuauhtémoc Blanco (39) and former Galaxy players Luis Hernández (35) and Carlos Hermosillo (35).

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.