Los Angeles (AFP) – Wales captain Gareth Bale has signed a 12-month contract with Los Angeles FC that features options through 2024, the Major League Soccer squad announced Monday.
Bale confirmed his plans on social media over the weekend after his departure from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
“I am extremely excited for this move to LAFC,” Bale said.
“This is the right place for me and my family and the right time in my career and I cannot wait to get started working with the team and getting ready to win more trophies in Los Angeles.”
The 32-year-old forward, a five-time UEFA Champions League winner, spent nine years with Real Madrid.
“Gareth is one of the most dynamic and exciting players of his generation,” LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington said. “Adding a player who brings his talent and experience at the highest levels is an incredible opportunity to improve our club.
“It’s clear that Gareth is highly motivated to continue to win trophies and we are elated that he has made the choice to join LAFC and help lead us in our ultimate goal of winning championships.”
Bale has made 105 appearances for Wales since 2006, scoring 28 goals and contributing 22 assists. He sparked Wales into this year’s Qatar World Cup, their first appearance in 64 years.
The Cardiff native made his professional debut at age 16 in 2006 for Southampton in the English Championship before joining Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in 2007, scoring 42 goals in 146 appearances through 2013, when he joined Real Madrid.
With the La Liga club, Bale scored 106 goals and assisted on 67 others in 258 appearances as Real Madrid made a stunning trophy haul, collecting hardware 19 times.
“There are simply not many players in the world who can have an impact on a match like Gareth Bale,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “He can be dangerous in so many different ways and we expect him to complement what we believe is already a strong team from the moment he arrives.
“His knowledge of the game and experience in playing in big games will be invaluable for our club.”
Bale is expected to attend an LAFC home match on Wednesday against Dallas and a likely debut match would be the Black and Gold’s July 8 home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy in the local derby.
The Welshman joins an LAFC club that tops the league with 33 points and a 10-3-3 record to set the pace in the Western Conference by four points over Real Salt Lake.
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Roberto
June 29, 2022 at 7:36 am
Gareth Bale’s earning for last year were 35.5 million dollars! So with the cost of gas in California, his pay at LAFC will at least cover his gas money,
Roberto
June 28, 2022 at 8:52 am
This deal was too good for LAFC to pass up*. I guess they are paying about 1.2 to 1.5 million. That is about 3 weeks worth of what Bale got at Real Madrid, where he was paid $600,000 a week or about 20 million a year. So, if they can get an MLS cup this year and some quality part-time play next year, they for sure got their monies worth. *Bale may have contacted them!
dave
June 28, 2022 at 1:01 pm
@Roberto, I agree, circumstances make this a good fit:
.
* Bale needs to get fit for World Cup, and LAFC have a good schedule for that
* Bale is willing to play for LAFC for very cheap (reportedly, TAM rather than DP slot)
* LAFC have playoff probabilities that suggest an extra piece might help them win a Cup
* There are a lot worse places than LA for a wealthy person to live for a year or two
.
Seems like a good deal for all parties. I would not be shocked if it were Bale’s idea
Dermot McQuarrie
June 28, 2022 at 6:43 am
Ah Well, it should keep him fit for the World Cup!
Yespage
June 30, 2022 at 3:39 pm
In more ways than one. It’ll likely provide a lighter loading which will likely be more able to keep him healthy for the World Cup.
Ron
June 27, 2022 at 8:57 pm
This is why I ignore Major League soccer. Can always predict when a former football star in Europe is over the hill – they join an MLS team. It’s a retirement league and has little respect among world football fans.
John P. O'Donnell
June 27, 2022 at 9:56 pm
You have a funny way of ignoring it.
MLS Football Fan
June 28, 2022 at 1:20 am
More than funny, hilarious way of ignoring it. Liga MX or any South American football league only wishes they could bring “over the hill” football stars.
Ra
June 28, 2022 at 7:30 am
It is a great way to spend money, right? The BCG report that MLS commissioned listed ‘”great” intl hires’ as one of the key problems of MLS.
Roberto
June 28, 2022 at 7:42 am
My reply below was for Ron.
@Ra, I think this signing is part of the hype over the new Apple deal. Next year we will see if Bale in more interested in golf or football. What the MLS needs to move forward is continue to develop young players and pay them more instead of players at the end of their careers, they may add to the league for a year or two but home grown players are the future.
Ra
June 28, 2022 at 8:09 am
That was one of the key conclusions in the report. MLS pays too high salaries to very few players, and low salaries to most others. End result is low quality of play. The document I mentioned is the MLS strategy blueprint for beyond 2016+. You should read it if you are into MLS. They mentioned back in 2016 that MLS should centralize production, as they just did.
Roberto
June 28, 2022 at 7:30 am
Then why were so many European and others trying to sign Bale? He is hoping to stay on top of his game to prepare for the world cup.
TheOriginalTom
June 29, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Bale is only 32. There are many older players plying their trade for serious clubs in Europe (and for less serious clubs – like Man U ).