Gareth Bale, the captain of Wales, announced on Saturday that he had left Real Madrid for Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer.
Following widespread rumours earlier on Saturday about the move, Bale announced his intentions to join LAFC in a message on Twitter.
The 32-year-old wrote, “See you soon, Los Angeles,” Bale could be seen in the accompanying film sporting a LAFC shirt and cap.
The Los Angeles Times reported earlier that Bale will be qualified to play for LAFC as of July 1.
According to ESPN, Bale will travel to Los Angeles at the end of the week to sign a contract that will keep him employed until the end of this season with an option for another year.
Bale, who formerly held the record for being the most expensive player in the world, has spent the last eight seasons with Real Madrid, where he has won five Champions League crowns and three domestic championships.
The Welshman has 39 goals in 106 appearances for Wales in international competition, along with 139 league goals in his club career.
In order for Wales to qualify for this year’s World Cup, where they will play the United States, England, and Iran in the group stage in Qatar, Bale was essential.
Wales hasn’t qualified for the competition since the 1958 championships.
Bale’s hiring coincides with LAFC’s efforts to build on an encouraging MLS campaign thus far.
With 30 points after 15 games, the California team is in first place in the Western Conference rankings.
Bale will be the second prominent foreign acquisition the club has made recently. Giorgio Chiellini, a former Juventus player and Italy international, recently joined the organisation.
Following speculations in Britain that Bale was in talks with Cardiff about a potential transfer, news of his decision to join Major League Soccer was announced just a few days later.
Tottenham, where he had played, and Newcastle were also mentioned as potential stops.
