Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has confirmed Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will join the club in July.
“Steven Gerrard arrives in July and by then we will certainly have a plan available,” Arena, who has led the club to three Major League Soccer titles in four years, told LA Times.
“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 described the Reds captain as “the perfect fit”.
“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.”
In announcing his decision to leave Liverpool, ending an association he has had since he was eight, Gerrard stressed he could not play for another European club if there was a chance they would come up against his boyhood side.
That is partly the reason he made the life-changing decision to move to the United States, and he believes Galaxy is the ideal destination.
“I think it’s a match made in heaven really,” Gerrard told the newspaper.
“One of the reasons I chose LA Galaxy was because of the success they’ve had recently.
“I want to finish my career very strong. I want to add some medals and trophies to my collection.”
Gerrard admits had the club offered him a new contract last summer he would not be leaving at the end of the season.
However, the midfielder insists he does not want to blame anyone for his impending departure.
A contract offer was not made to Gerrard, who turns 35 in May, until November by which time he had already been told by Brendan Rodgers his playing time would be managed.
Such a tactic had already seen him left on the bench for Liverpool’s Champions League match against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu and that, combined with the delay in offering him an extension, resulted in the player coming to a decision about his future.