Bruce Arena confirms Steven Gerrard will join LA Galaxy in summer

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, 34, will sign for MLS outfit LA Galaxy in July on an 18-month deal when his current Anfield contract expires at the end of this season, the American club’s head coach Bruce Arena has confirmed.

According to news reports, the former England skipper will earn around £4m-a-year (£6m in total) with the Los Angeles-based team, becoming one of their three designated players not to have a salary cap, and replacing USA legend Landon Donovan, who has now retired from the game.

Gerrard will also join up with former Anfield teammate and recent MLS Most Valuable Player winner Robbie Keane, who scored the goal to help Galaxy claim the league title in the final with New England Revolution.

“Steven Gerrard arrives in July and by then we will certainly have a plan available,” Arena said. “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, meanwhile, added: “We just started thinking in the universe of players that are out there, we want to make a decision on what signifies a Galaxy-designated player.

“When we look at that, Steven Gerrard is the perfect fit with what he brings to us on the field and the character that he has off it.”

The Reds icon earlier in the month announced he was leaving his boyhood club, with the main reason being that he wants to continue playing more. “The key was when the manager said it was time to manage my games,” he said.

“It was a very difficult conversation to have. I had an idea it was going to come but it was a painful one to to have when you’ve been a starter and a mainstay in the team for such a long time.

“It was a very difficult conversation to have but I’m bright enough to realise it is the right thing. I accept it and I’ll continue to give everything I’ve got whether I’m starting, coming off the bench or whatever.”

Liverpool have struggled to follow on from their second place Premier League finish last term, following the sale of Luis Suarez and injury to Daniel Sturridge, and are down in eighth so far. They are 13/2 chances with Coral to be in the top four again at the end of this season.