LAFC sign Uruguay's Rodriguez, deal Ramirez

LAFC have signed Uruguay youngster Brian Rodriguez as a Young Designated Player, the club announced on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old joins LAFC after rising through the ranks of Uruguayan club Penarol.

Reports had put Rodriguez's transfer fee at $11.5 million, but a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN FC that the transfer fee was "closer to $8 million."

"Brian is an exciting and dynamic player who is one of the top talents in South America," LAFC executive vice president and general manager John Thorrington said. "Acquiring a player of Brian's quality in this window is another powerful statement from LAFC about our commitment to winning and building a Club that excites our supporters."

Rodriguez most recently represented Uruguay at the U-20 FIFA World Cup this past summer in Poland, starting three of the team's four matches.

The club also sent forward Christian Ramirez to the Houston Dynamo for $250,000 ($175,000 in General Allocation Money and $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money). LAFC will retain a percentage of any sell-on fees for Ramirez.

"We are very pleased to add a player like Christian Ramirez to the Houston Dynamo. He is a proven goal-scorer who is in the prime of his career and has national team experience," Dynamo senior vice president and general manager Matt Jordan said in a team statement. "With his skillset he will complement our current attacking corps quite well. With the addition of Christian, we are confident that our roster is in a good position to finish the season well and push for the playoffs."

Ramirez is a U.S. international, having scored once in two appearances for Gregg Berhalter's squad.