LAFC captain Laurent Ciman leaves for Ligue 1’s Dijon

Los Angeles FC defender Laurent Ciman, left, of Belgium, and Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri, center, of Argentina, battle for a head ball in the second half of an MLS soccer game in Los Angeles (AP/Ringo H.W. Chiu)

LOS ANGELES — LAFC captain Laurent Ciman is leaving the MLS club for Dijon in France’s Ligue 1.

LAFC announced the transfer of its top defender Tuesday.

Ciman has been the centerpiece of the MLS expansion club’s defensive efforts, earning an All-Star selection. The Belgian also scored the first goal in LAFC’s new Banc of California Stadium, getting the dramatic winner in a victory over Seattle.

But the 33-year-old Ciman’s MLS contract ends this year, and LAFC coach Bob Bradley dropped him from the lineup last Friday against the LA Galaxy. Bradley said he felt Ciman wasn’t focused on LAFC amid offers for his services arriving from Europe.

Ciman spent three seasons with the Montreal Impact before getting traded to LAFC last December.

Dijon finished 11th in Ligue 1 last season.

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