Nashville SC has acquired U.S. international defender Walker Zimmerman from LAFC, giving the expansion side a massive boost ahead of its inaugural season, sources confirmed to ESPN.

The Athletic was the first to report that Zimmerman was headed to Nashville.

Sources added that LAFC will receive what is expected to be an MLS record amount of allocation money for a defender. Nashville is sending $600,000 of allocation money in 2020, $350,000 in 2021 as well as incentives based on games played which could push the total to $1.25 million. LAFC will also receive an international roster spot. Last year, Minnesota United sent $1m in allocation money to Sporting Kansas City for Ike Opara, who was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2019.

The move is a shock considering that Zimmerman has been a mainstay for LAFC since arriving prior to the 2018 campaign, making 59 league, playoff and cup appearances while scoring five goals. He has also broken through at international level, making 12 appearances while scoring two goals.

But LAFC is prepared to move on with Eddie Segura, Danilo Silva and Tristan Blackmon as the available center-backs ahead of its initial foray into the CONCACAF Champions League. LAFC will play Leon in the away leg of the round of 16 matchup on Feb. 18 with the return leg taking place on Feb. 27.

The deal does mark the second time Zimmerman has been traded within the league. After breaking in with FC Dallas in 2013 the defender was traded to LAFC prior to the 2018 season for a total of $500,000 in allocation money plus the top spot in the allocation ranking. With Dallas, Zimmerman had made 110 league, playoff and cup appearances while scoring eight goals.