This is Part Eight in a list of players that will be joining the Los Angeles Galaxy this season.


Last season, the Los Angeles Galaxy's defensive back line was under scrutiny for giving up goals left and right. The lack of depth defensively was one reason why the Galaxy were eliminated by FC Dallas last season in the Western Conference Finals.

Ryan Thomas, a defender who also can play in the midfielder, is someone who will look to fill that void by utilizing his speed and dispossessing ability. Thomas is a set-piece specialist, and is a skillful winger.

An athletic individual, Thomas has a chance to prove he can get the job done playing in the back for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Ryan Thomas was born in Claremont, California. He was a teammate of SuperDraft selection Hector Jimenez as a member of youth powerhouse Arsenal FC, winning national titles at the Under-15 level in 2004, the Under-16 level in 2005 and the Under-17 level in 2006.

As a member of the Claremont High School boys soccer teams, Thomas captained the Wolfpack as a senior in 2007 and was also Baseline League MVP that season.

As a result of his ability to mark his players and mix things up as a defensive midfielder, he earned the nod to play for Bret Simon's Stanford Cardinal.

In his freshman year, Thomas started the final five matched of the season after debuting against UC Santa Barbara on Aug. 31, 2007. He would play a bigger role in his sophomore year, tallying a team-best three assists in 17 appearances, all starts.

As a junior, Thomas was an All-Pac 10 Honorable Mention, starting all 20 games in the Cardinal back line. He would record a 92nd-minute golden goal against San Diego State on Oct. 15, 2009, while adding three assists to his credit.

In his final season, Thomas started all 18 matches in defense, recording one goal and three assists. As a senior, Thomas was named to the All Pac-10 Second Team.

Thomas's reliability as a winger will add some badly-needed depth behind the likes of A.J. De La Garza, Sean Franklin, Frankie Hejduk, Omar Gonzalez and Todd Dunivant.

There have been many solid players who have come from the ranks at Palo Alto to become stars in MLS.

Will the Los Angeles Galaxy's Ryan Thomas be one of them?

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