San Diego FC is moving on from Hirving “Chucky” Lozano following a season marked by injuries and a locker-room incident that led to a late-season benching.

The decision to part ways with the Mexican-born winger was the club’s, sporting director Tyler Heaps said Friday at the club’s Singing Hills headquarters. Lozano is with the club as it prepares for the 2026 season, and will remain in San Diego, working out, while SDFC attempts to either loan him out or trade him to another club. The team could take a financial hit on the 30-year-old Lozano, who made a club-high $7.63 million in 2025 as one of SDFC’s two designated players.

Heaps said the team will attempt to add another designated player — a star who is not subject to Major League Soccer’s salary structure — but would not commit to a timeframe. The international transfer window opened earlier this month.

A household name in Mexican soccer circles, Lozano was San Diego FC’s first major signing and the early face of MLS’ 30th franchise. The club feted him with a reception and concert at The Rady Shell, and plastered his face on video boards inside Snapdragon Stadium during the club’s inaugural season.

Lozano battled leg injuries beginning with SDFC’s home opener.  When healthy, Lozano was the regular starter at left wing. That changed Oct. 4, when coach Mikey Varas subbed him out at halftime and Lozano, in a later Instagram post, admitted “I didn’t react in the right way.”

Lozano didn’t travel with the team to Portland for the final regular-season game, then didn’t suit up for the first playoff game. SDFC’s season ended with a loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Western Conference final.

Amahl Pellegrino, a journeyman forward acquired from San Jose late in the summer transfer window, replaced Lozano and started all five playoff games, scoring three goals. SDFC has since re-signed Pellgrino to a one-year deal in December with options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

SDFC returns to competition Feb. 3 with a Concacaf Champions Cup match against Mexico’s Pumas UNAM. The club’s MLS schedule starts Feb. 21 with a match against CF Montreal at Snapdragon.

This story will be updated.