Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is expected to announce on Friday that he will leave the club at the end of this season, with Major League Soccer expected to be the new destination of the former England captain.
With his current Reds deal set to expire this summer, Gerrard became free to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club today. He has reportedly attracted interest from MLS, with the LA Galaxy’s thought to be a potential destination.
“[Gerrard] was one of several in the discussion of a good addition if possible,” according to ESPN FC.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said on Wednesday that he had accepted the possibility of his captain talking to clubs about a move abroad.
Rodgers revealed at the beginning of December that the Reds had offered Gerrard a new deal, but the player indicated that he wanted time to consider his future.
Gerrard, born in the Merseyside village of Whiston, joined Liverpool’s academy when he was nine years old, progressing through the ranks to make his first-team debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998.
He replaced Sami Hyypia as club captain in October 2003, and led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, scoring his side’s first goal in the Istanbul final as they came from three down to draw 3-3 with AC Milan and then beat them on penalties. Gerrard also won the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups.
He won 114 England caps, having made his international debut in 2000, captaining his country for the first time in 2008 and leading them at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, as well as at Euro 2012.
The midfielder retired from international football after England went out of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the group stage.
