Ashley Cole | MLSsoccer.com

Option declined following 2018 season.

Cole is widely regarded as one of the best left backs of his generation and boasts extensive experience at the club and international levels for some of the top teams in the world. Though he was widely known as an attack-minded fullback in the earlier days of career, he has rounded out the defensive side of his game to become a complete player. He figures to maintain his place as a key piece in the Galaxy backline in 2018.

INTERNATIONAL: Although he has since retired from international duty, Cole was for 13 years a stalwart for the English national team. He finished his career for the Three Lions with 107 caps and has appeared in three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010) and two European Championships (2004, 2012).

OUTSIDE MLS: Cole started his professional career at Arsenal, his local club, in 1998 and made his first-team debut in November 1999. He established himself as a first-team regular early in the 2000-01 Premier League season and went on to win the 2002 and 2004 EPL titles with the Gunners, the latter of which came in an unbeaten season.

He controversially transferred to Arsenal’s London rivals, Chelsea, ahead of the 2006-07 season, where he continued to showcase his talents as one of the best in the world at his position. While he was with Chelsea, the team won a Premier League title, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League. However, he had a tough time after a transfer to Italy’s AS Roma in 2014, and only appeared in 11 league games for the Serie A side before joing the Galaxy.