Confirmed! Stevie G is joining LA Galaxy
It's confirmed - Steven Gerrard is bound for the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to the Major League Soccer side's head coach Bruce Arena.
The Liverpool icon announced last week that he was ending his 25-year association with the English Premier League side after declining to play a bit-part role for the Reds in future seasons.
Gerrard declared that he would not join a rival Premier League side, prompting speculation that the former England captain would be continuing his career in the United States.
This has now been confirmed by former US head coach Arena as well as the all-action midfielder himself in quotes published by the Los Angeles Times newspaper ahead of an expected official announcement.
Quality
Arena said: "Steven Gerrard arrives in July and by then we will certainly have a plan available.
"He's a player of quality. I'm not concerned about how he's going to fit in with our team.
"We have a club now with a proven history of success. All those things go hand in hand in making LA Galaxy a very attractive team for players such as Steven Gerrard."
Galaxy president Chris Klein also described Gerrard's move as a "perfect fit" for club and player.
Match made in heaven
Gerrard, who follows in the footsteps of former Manchester United star David Beckham and ex-Liverpool teammate Robbie Keane by moving to the StubHub Center, has signed an 18-month deal that will see him pick up £4 million ($8.1m) a year.
The 34-year-old, who claimed he would have stayed at Anfield if he was offered a new contract last summer, said: "I think it's a match made in heaven really.
"One of the reasons I chose LA Galaxy was because of the success they've had recently.
"I want to finish my career very strong. I want to add some medals and trophies to my collection."
Source: The LA Times via Sky Sports
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