I was really afraid he would try and come back to Man United. I'm happy he's not.

Beckham agrees to LA Galaxy move

Beckham will leave Real Madrid after four seasons

David Beckham will leave Real Madrid and join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
The 31-year-old former England captain will sign a five-year deal, reportedly worth £128m.

Beckham said: "This week Real asked me to make a decision regarding their offer to extend my contract.

"After considering several options to stay in Madrid or join other major British and European teams, I have decided to join LA Galaxy."

In a statement, Beckham continued: "I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make.

"I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans.

"I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.

"For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100% to my coach, team-mates and fans as I believe manager Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve."

Real Madrid confirmed Beckham's departure in a statement, saying: "Both parties have agreed that Beckham will not extend his current contract, which ends on 30 June 2007."

Beckham left Manchester United in July 2003 to sign for Real, who paid £25m for the midfielder's services.

However, in the three-and-a-half seasons since his arrival, the Spanish giants have failed to win any major trophies.

This season has proved particularly disappointing for Beckham, who was dropped by England coach Steve McClaren and then fell out of favour with Real boss Capello.


How the BBC Sport website broke the news in November

LA Galaxy admitted their interest in signing Beckham in November, when general manager Alexi Lalas told the BBC Sport website of his admiration for the former England captain.

In an exclusive interview, Lalas said: "The Los Angeles Galaxy are looked upon as the jewel of Major League Soccer.

"We play in the best stadium we have had incredible success over the history of the league, we have had great individual players and great teams. There's a tradition of excellence.

"All of this leads to this race to become the first MLS super club, if you will.

"It is something we aspire to and in order to do that you have to have quality players, a direction and a passion, a good coach and you have to get credibility domestically and internationally.

"Signing players of Beckham's stature would be a wonderful step in the right direction not just for the Galaxy but for soccer in America."

Landon Donovan, Galaxy's star player, said Beckham's arrival would be a huge boost to MLS.

"I think it's hard to quantify what David Beckham being here would mean," he said.

"Marketing-wise it's a dream come true and it's not a 35, 36-year-old washed-up guy.

"It's a guy who can still play and a guy who still has a lot of appeal, probably the most famous soccer player in the world."

Further proof the MLS is full of substandard and or washed up players from better leagues.

The jewel of MLS is cubic zirconium.

LA is perfect for Becks though, about time he moved there.

There's a professional soccer league in the States?

wow although I don't care at all for soccer, this should help promote the sport a little more on this side of the world.

Looks like MLS is for real

haha you beat me by 2 mins angus

This is awesome... just in time for Canada's MLS team

About your post:

I don't think Becks would have wanted to play for a Premiership team other than Man United.

Not even Wigan?

Is 31 old for a soccer player? I don't follow soccer, but I read he didn't play well in the World Cup. Is he still a great player?

Not even Chelsea.

£128m

Fucking hell, surely that's going to make him the highest paid sportsman in the world. Surely that's more £$£$ than Tiger Woods or anyone else.

That's really true that LA gave him a 5 year - $250 million contract? I thought it was a misprint, or how much Real Madrid was paying him.

The only thing he was doing in Madrid was selling shirts. Lots of shirts. If he does the same for LA, they're paid right back.

That's a lot of shirts.

and i still wont watch MLS.

Well

It's not just shirts, you know. But on a commercial level, Beckham brings in a ton of money. I really think that's the only reason Real bought him from Manchester in the first place, cause they haven't won a thing since and he spent an awful lot of time on the bench.

At 31 a player is usually past his peak, Beckham certainly is, although it is not uncommon now for players to continue into their late thirties. Whether he is a "great player" or not is debatable but i'm sure he has been signed for his marketability rather than his qualities as a player.

i'm pretty sure michael shumacher was the highest paid athlete last year (more than tiger or anybody). But I'm also pretty sure he just retired, so I don't know, that's a rediculous contract though!

I'm wondering if MLS is going to subsidize the contract for LA. This is obviously a deal that is beyond just the Galaxy, but something the league wanted in order to give them a higher status nationally and internationally. I'm intrigued. I've never gone to a game in Foxboro, but maybe I'll check out when LA comes to town next year.

quick question: how long did it take for you to come up with your screen name?