LA Galaxy’s head coach Bruce Arena has confirmed that legendary Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will join the Major League Soccer franchise this summer.
Last week Gerrard, 34, revealed he would not sign a new deal at Liverpool and would let his current contract run out before continuing his career in the USA.
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Now, Arena has confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that Gerrard will arrive in July and that the reigning MLS Cup Champions “have a plan for him.”
Gerrard has spent his entire professional career at Liverpool, winning 11 trophies and carrying the Reds for most of his 17-year stint as a lynchpin in the Merseyside giants’ midfield. However after turning down chances to join Real Madrid, Chelsea and several of Europe’s other big boys in the past, it seems like a final few years in the sun to end his career was too good an offer for the Liverpudlian to resist.
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Various reports over the past week have speculated that LA was Gerrard’s most likely destination in MLS and the former English national team captain is expected to sign an 18-month deal with a salary reported to be in the range of $155,000 per week, or $6 million per year.
Gerrard has told the LA Times that the move is a “match made in heaven” and that he “wants to add some medals and trophies to his collection”, while Galaxy club president Chris Klein said “Steven Gerrard is the perfect fit with what he brings to us on the field and the character that he has off it.”
With LA winning their fifth MLS Cup title in 2014 to become the most successful franchise in league history, Gerrard’s arrival will cement the Galaxy’s spot as the top professional team in North America as they aim to continue their dynasty in California.
With Gerrard and reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane in tandem from this summer onwards, the rest of Major League Soccer will be shuddering in their cleats. One of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history is officially heading to LA.