The LA Galaxy have confirmed that Steven Gerrard will join the club at the end of the English Premier League season. Gerrard is still playing regularly for Liverpool and will likely have a short break following the end of their campaign before suiting up for the Galaxy at some point in the summer. His contract with the Merseyside club runs through June.
"I'm very excited to begin the next chapter of my career in the United States with LA Galaxy," Gerrard told the club website. "My discussions with Bruce Arena and Chris Klein were extremely positive and the future of the team is very bright. I am committed to helping the LA Galaxy compete for trophies and to having an impact in Los Angeles and I will give my all for the club."
Both head coach Bruce Arena and Gerrard himself offered a bit more insight in an outside interview. Speaking to the LA Times (via the Press Association), Arena talked about the Liverpool captain's move to southern California:
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.
As for Gerrard, he seems equally pleased with the idea:
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.
He didn't mention Robbie Keane! Bit rude.
Keane and United States defender Omar Gonzalez are the Designated Players currently on the Galaxy roster. The club was able to sign Gerrard without any changes to the league's CBA because of the retirement of Landon Donovan, which opened up a DP slot.