Gareth Bale Has Agreed To Join MLS side Los Angeles FC On A Free Transfer.
Gareth Bale has agreed to join MLS side Los Angeles FC on one-year deal following exit from Real Madrid after nine years in the Spanish capital.
The Welsh forward, became a free agent after leaving Real Madrid this summer, and is looking to maintain his fitness ahead of Wales' appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Robert Page's men had qualified last month after beating Ukraine in their World Cup play-off final in Cardiff, with Captain Gareth Bale playing a key role in their qualification, scoring twice in the play-off semi-final victory over Austria.
Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur for a then-world-record fee of £85.1m in 2013 and often had an unruly relationship with fans and the hierarchy at the La Liga club.
Following his sensational display in the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv against Liverpool, Bale scored two spectacular goals which proved the difference in a 3–1 win for Real Madrid, making them the first team to win three back-to-back titles in Champions League era.
The performance earned Bale the Man of the Match award.
He had a broken relationship with Zinedine Zidane, and will be remembered by many for celebrating with that famous flag amid criticism from the Spanish media in November 2019 after his team Wales defeated Hungary at the Cardiff City Stadium to book their spot at Euro 2020.
Bale joked about his passion for golf holding up a banner with the inscription 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order'.
The gesture was not well received in the Spanish media, with the majority of Real fans stating that Bale showed "a lack of respect for the club and fans".
Bale further returned on loan at former club Tottenham Hotspur in 2021/22 season.
The five-time Champions League winner had been strongly linked with a move to hometown club Cardiff City, but instead snubbed the Championship club, and has chosen a move to California and the MLS, in order to get more playing game time ahead of the World Cup.
He has agreed a 12-month contract with the option of a further year with his LAFC.
The transfer would be completed when the secondary MLS transfer window opens on July 7. He could make his debut against LA Galaxy a day later.
Euro 2020 winner with Italy Giorgio Chiellini, was confirmed as a new signing for LAFC after the defender made more than 500 appearances for Juventus.
Other players on the books of the Los Angeles side include former Arsenal starlet Carlos Vela who extended his contract with the club until 2023.
The MLS season runs from February until October and the competition's secondary transfer window opens on 7 July.
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