90min

Wayne Rooney Officially Completes Move From Everton to MLS Franchise D.C. United

By Jamie Spencer

facebooktwitterreddit

​D.C. United have completed the signing of former England captain Wayne Rooney from Everton a three-and-a-half year contract that will run to the end of the 2021 Major League Soccer season.

The 32-year-old, who scored 11 goals for the Toffees during the 2017/18 campaign after returning to his boyhood club from Manchester United last summer, is believed to have taken a sizeable pay cut to move stateside and join the Washington D.C. franchise.

"It is fantastic to be joining D.C. United at such an exciting time in the club's history with the new stadium opening in just a few weeks," Rooney told DCUnited.com.

"Moving to America and MLS fulfils another career ambition for me. I have the hunger to be a success here and will give D.C. 100% - as I have always done for every team I have ever played for," he added.

"When I visited earlier this summer I was really impressed with everyone I met connected with the club, and of course the new Audi Field. Now I can't wait to get on the pitch in a United shirt and join my new teammates to bring success to this club."

Former Manchester United teammates Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are already plying their trade in MLS for Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy respectively.

Rooney has scored more than 330 goals in close to 800 career appearances at club and international level and it is hoped his arrival will boost the ailing fortunes of the worst side in MLS so far this season.

D.C. United lie rock bottom of the Eastern Conference table and the overall standings after taking only 10 points from 12 matches, although they do have a significant number of games in hand on all the sides immediately above them, including struggling champions Toronto FC.

D.C. United were historically the most successful MLS team, winning three of the first four MLS Cups after the league was launched in the 1990s. They won a fourth title in 2004, but it remains their last and LA Galaxy have since overtaken them by winning five.