LOS ANGELES – Gareth Bale has announced that he is joining Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Los Angeles FC on a free transfer after his departure from Real Madrid.
The 32-year-old has departed Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, and he has been strongly linked with a move to Cardiff City ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
However, Bale posted “see you soon, Los Angeles” on his official Twitter account, confirming that he is making the move to the North American outfit.
Los Angeles FC is yet to officially announce the deal, although their Twitter account retweeted Bale’s post.
The Wales international is believed to have agreed a one-year contract with the MLS outfit, and he will follow legendary centre-back Giorgio Chiellini to the club, with the Italian running down his contract at Juventus before making the move to Los Angeles.
Bale is among the most dynamic attacking players of his generation when healthy and on a top team. He scored 106 goals in 258 appearances for Madrid, which won five Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns during his tenure.
But Bale has played sparingly and occasionally ineffectively for Madrid in recent years. He made only seven appearances for the European champions this past season while struggling with several injuries.
Bale also went on a season-long loan to Tottenham in 2020-21, scoring 16 goals in 34 appearances for Spurs.
The brilliant goal-scorer joined Madrid from Spurs in 2013 for a then-record transfer fee.
Bale will get a fresh start in the Southern California sunshine alongside Chiellini, who joined LAFC after 17 seasons at Juventus and an impressive international career for Italy.
Bale was rumored to be considering retirement if Wales hadn’t qualified for the World Cup, but his national team earned a place in Qatar last month. Bale will be able to chase a trophy in Los Angeles while staying in shape for the rigors of the World Cup competition.
The MLS regular season ends Oct. 9, while the MLS Cup Final – the last potential game of the MLS season – is scheduled for Nov. 5, just over two weeks before the start of the World Cup.
Bale and Chiellini both would be eligible to debut for LAFC after the secondary transfer window opens July 7. LAFC hosts the archrival LA Galaxy on July 8.
They are expected to join a formidable core alongside Mexican striker and former MLS MVP Carlos Vela, whose tenure at LAFC is expected to be extended after his own contract expires this summer.
LAFC is signing both Chiellini and Bale with targeted allocated money, a distinction that leaves open a designated player slot if the club decides to add yet another star player who can be paid above the MLS salary cap.
LAFC has been among MLS’ top teams since its founding as an expansion franchise in 2018, but while it won one Supporters’ Shield as the regular-season champions, the club has yet to raise the league’s postseason trophy.
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