Marco Reus' LA Galaxy transfer almost didn't happen as club chief admits 'we got lucky'

Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus' free transfer to LA Galaxy nearly didn't happen, according to club chief Will Kuntz.

Kuntz had spent weeks working on a deal to bring the 35-year-old to the MLS - but LA Galaxy couldn't get Reus a visa until he had signed the contract. With just two months left of the MLS regular season, LA Galaxy had to complete a procedure that can take as long as eight weeks.

They also had to send Reus and Oliver Curry, the team’s player personnel specialist, to Vancouver, Canada, for an 8 am slot as the procedure had to take place at a U.S. Embassy or consular office outside the country, according to the LA Times.

Reus was then able to re-enter the U.S., and he had to do that Thursday night in order to participate in the Galaxy’s final training session before Saturday’s game, where he made an instant impact on his MLS debut. The German got a goal and an assist after entering play just after the hour mark against Atlanta United.

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"We got really lucky,” Galaxy president Kuntz admitted. LA Galaxy bolstered their roster at the right time, with the franchise currently topping the Western Conference.

Reus' arrival was a big pull to the West, after having to watch Eastern Conference table-toppers Inter Miami sign Barcelona legends Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba.

"[I'll] enjoy the days, the summer and all that stuff, but ... I'm not here to enjoy too much of the sun," Reus told ESPN before lighting up LA from the subs bench. "I'm here to be successful with the team, and of course, to try to bring the Championship back to the Galaxy."

"First of all, I want to prove myself, still," Reus added. "I'm 35 years old, but I think I have a lot of energy in my tank, and of course, we want to bring the Championship home. I mean, this is the big goal for this club. Like I said, it was 10 years ago. It's a long time."

LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney was also pleased to see Reus make an instant impact. The franchise will be hoping the attacking midfielder can stay fit heading into the MLS Cup.

"He came in and he brought class, composure, intelligence obviously, quality, a lot of things," coach Vanney said after the game. "In a way, he made things look a little bit easy at times, where it's just smooth, in the flow and the rhythm of the game, and just picking things out."