He may be an aging superstar who is past his prime, but apparently that hasn’t stopped DC United of Major League Soccer (MLS) from throwing big bucks at Wayne Rooney.
According to multiple reports, the former Manchester United star has agreed to a deal in principle to join Major League Soccer’s franchise in Washington DC for a £12 million ($16.2 million) transfer fee. That would make Rooney one of the league’s highest-paid players.
While nothing is official yet, the BBC is reporting that representatives for the 32-year-old have been in the US for weeks trying to hammer out a deal. Now, it appears the Rooney’s time in England is coming to an end.
You Can Never Come Home Again
When Rooney signed with Everton in the Premier League off-season, it was supposed to be a homecoming of sorts. The striker signed with the club as an 18-year old before spending the next 13 seasons starring for England’s most famous club, Manchester United.
It was high fives all around when Rooney returned to Everton on a two-year deal, but things haven’t gone according to plan. Rooney got off on the right foot, scoring two goals in his first five games for Everton. However, he hasn’t scored a goal since late 2017, and his drought has now reached a painful 18 games.
Rooney will add a sprinkle of star power to MLS, but he’ll need to find a time machine if he is to have any real hope of helping turn his new club into a contender. With just one win in eight matches, DC United is dead last in the league. Rooney might not have enough gas left to lift them into contention, but he can help in other areas.
The club his historically been one of the smallest spenders in the league, making New York or Los Angeles a more likely destination for a marquee name. However, United DC’s pricey acquisition makes more sense when you consider the club has a brand new stadium opening in mid-July that they’ll need to fill.
They’re certainly hoping Rooney can help to do that.
Another Aging EPL Superstar?
Rooney would be the latest in a long line of English Premier League stars to finish out the downside of their careers in the USA. The promise of big paychecks is part of the allure, as is the chance to grow the game in the world’s biggest sporting market.
David Beckham was the first big name to move to MLS in 2007, when he joined the LA Galaxy, but he was far from the last. More and more have been making the move in recent years:
Jozy Altidore / Toronto FC (2015)
Ashley Cole / LA Galaxy (2016)
Tim Howard / Colorado Rapids (2016)
Bastian Schweinsteiger / Chicago Fire (2017)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic / LA Galaxy (2018)
If the deal with DC United is consummated, Rooney won’t be able to join his new club until the MLS transfer window opens on July 10. It puts him on pace to play his first game in Washington on July 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
That match just also happens to be the first match that DC United plays in their brand new stadium.