Ex-Bruin George Signs With Galaxy

Four months in Germany was time enough for former UCLA All-American Seth George, who signed Thursday with the Galaxy and will be in uniform for Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Fire.

George, the Galaxy’s second-round pick in this year’s draft, signed for the Major League Soccer minimum of $25,000, which is less than a third of what he was making for 1860 Munich in the German Bundesliga this year.

But money couldn’t buy George happiness. Barely playing for 1860 Munich’s amateur team, George left for his home in Mission Viejo a month ago, two weeks before the season ended and with a year left on his contract.

“I was going nowhere,” he said. “I said, ‘This is not what I came over here to do.’ I wanted to be in a situation where I was rising up.”

George has practiced with the Galaxy for four days, but he is not expected to play much right away.

“He’s in good shape, but I don’t think he’s fit to play 90 minutes,” said Coach Sigi Schmid, who coached George at UCLA for four years.