Denis Bouanga wants to take Los Angeles FC to even greater heights after putting pen to paper on a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2030. 

Bouanga, who joined LAFC from Saint-Etienne in 2022, has been a standout performer since arriving in MLS, and has made 117 league appearances for the club.

Indeed, the Gabon international's 100 MLS goal involvements (76 goals, 24 assists) are at least seven more than any other player, with Lionel Messi in second with 93. 

And Bouanga, who netted in LAFC's season-opening win over Inter Miami, is confident of leading the team to success after a strong start to their 2026 campaign. 

"I'm grateful to LAFC for the trust they've shown in me," said Bouanga. "From the beginning, my family and I have felt at home in Los Angeles.

"It's an honour to represent this club and our supporters every time I put on the jersey.

"I believe in what we are building here, and I'm motivated to keep improving, winning more trophies, and helping this club reach even higher."

LAFC were in action in midweek, booking their place in the CONCACAF Champions Cup last 16 with a 7-1 aggregate win over Real Espana, but return to league play next. 

Marc Dos Santos' side make the trip to Shell Energy Stadium to face the Houston Dynamo, who also made a winning start by downing the Chicago Fire 2-1 away from home. 

Hugo Cuypers' 31st-minute strike was cancelled out by Guilherme's quickfire double in the second half, putting them seventh in the early-season Western Conference table. 

And while Dynamo boss Ben Olsen conceded his team were still far from their very best, he was thrilled with the personality on display by his team to get a positive result. 

"It was a great win," Olsen said. "We showed resiliency and that was needed. I think from the first 20 minutes, we had a little bit of trouble figuring them out. 

"I will continue to say that we are a work in progress. Sometimes it takes that, but we grinded in to get a result. It shows the personality within this team. 

"I spoke about it in the offseason. We need personality and guys that have been around the block. There was no hanging their heads and we were the better team."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Guilherme

In his MLS debut on Saturday, Guilherme scored both Dynamo goals in Houston's win over Chicago, and he will be keen to continue his good form this weekend.

He is the first Dynamo player to score two goals on his MLS debut and the third to score twice in his regular-season Dynamo debut (Ariel Lassiter in 2020 and Brian Ching in 2006).

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga recorded a goal and an assist in LAFC's 3-0 win over Inter Miami to open the season.

Including the playoffs, it was the 25th time since the start of the 2023 season that Bouanga has been involved in multiple goals in an MLS match, second only to Lionel Messi (30) in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

Houston have won five of their eight regular-season meetings with LAFC since the beginning of the 2022 season (D1 L2), more victories than any other team has against them over the last four seasons.

The Dynamo's win over Chicago was also their first-ever regular-season win in the month of February (D3 L2 previously). They are looking to begin a season with two straight wins for the first time since the 2017 campaign.

LAFC, meanwhile, have recorded 23 road defeats in regular-season MLS play since the start of the 2022 season. More than one-third of those losses (8/23) have come in Texas, posting a record of W1 D3 L8 in 12 league matches in the Lone Star State since 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 23.1%

Draw – 22.4%

LAFC – 54.5%