Frank Lampard is ending his legendary English soccer career to start a new adventure in America.
Lampard, 35, has decided to leave Chelsea FC, ending a legendary 13-year spell at Stamford Bridge, according to the BBC.
“This club has become part of my life,” Lampard said on Monday.
Lampard is Chelsea’s all-time leading goal scorer with 211 goals in 649 games. Lampard helped the Blues win three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, one UEFA Champions League title and one UEFA Europa League title.
Chelsea declined to offer Lampard a new contract, and the England international will leave the club as a free agent and take his talents to Major League Soccer.
The Mirror reports Lampard has agreed to sign with New York City FC ahead of its inaugural season.
“Lampard is understood to be have agreed to a basic wage significantly less than the £150,000-a-week that he picked up at Chelsea.
“That pay packet is expected to be boosted substantially by bonuses however with the England midfielder’s signing a massive coup.”
If the report is true, Lampard will join Spanish striker David Villa as marquee players on the NYCFC squad.
Lampard is part of England’s 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, but his immediate future remains unclear. NYCFC won’t play until March 2015, which creates a scenario in which Lampard wouldn’t play a competitive game for more than eight months.
Lampard’s NYCFC deal could include an option which would allow him to play for another club on loan before the start of the 2015 MLS season.
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Photo via Twitter/@IndySport
