Tony Lochhead, a New Zealand international defender, has signed with Chivas USA after six seasons in the Australian A-League, the Major League Soccer club announced Wednesday.

Lochhead made a team-record 131 appearances for the Wellington Phoenix and has 43 caps for the All Whites, including his participation at the 2010 World Cup.

The 32-year-old backliner played collegiately at nearby California-Santa Barbara, helping the Gauchos reach the 2004 US college finals while playing alongside current Chivas USA goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy.

Lochhead spent the 2006 season with the New England Revolution, helping them reach the MLS Cup Final, which they lost to the Houston Dynamo, before returning to his homeland.

Chivas USA had the worst record in the Western Conference of the 19-team league last year, winning six and drawing eight in 34 matches for 26 points.

The Red and White named Colombian Wilmer Cabrera as the team's coach for the upcoming 2014 season two weeks ago.