By KEVIN KOCZWARA
Landon Donovan is apparently ready to stick around Los Angeles after all.
According to Sports Illustrated, Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy have agreed on a multi-year contract that will keep the 31-year-old U.S. Men’s National Team star in MLS.
The deal will keep the most successful player in MLS history in the league. Donovan’s five MLS Cups, including the last two with Los Angeles, is more than any other player has won. He is just shy of setting the league’s regular-season goal record of 134 held by Jeff Cunningham — Donovan has 131 goals.
Donovan was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but if he has agreed on a new deal he would be joining Galaxy teammate Omar Gonzalez, who signed a Designated Player contract, and Robbie Keane, as the Galaxy’s Designated Players for the 2014 season.
Donovan was quoted recently stating that he was open to making a move to Europe, but the SI report suggests he and MLS reached an agreement on a deal, and given Clint Dempsey’s sizable contract with the Seattle Sounders, it is safe to assume Donovan’s new deal will be a significant upgrade.
Donovan recently took a three-month sabbatical from soccer. He subsequently lost his spot on the U.S. national team but has seemingly regained it after a dominant performance in this summer’s Gold Cup.
That form has continued with the Galaxy, where he has scored seven goals this season, four coming in the last three games.
What do you think of Donovan’s decision to stick with the Galaxy and stay in MLS? Think he deserves the kind of salary Clint Dempsey is earning? Disappointed that Donovan didn’t make one last run at Europe?
Share your thoughts below.