Everton star Rooney's America move 'agreed in principle'
Wayne Rooney’s £12m move to America has been “agreed in principle” with a switch to DC United imminent.
The Everton star has already held “serious talks” about ending his career in the United States, which could see him move as early as next month.
Rooney’s representatives traveled to Washington to negotiate terms last week and it appears an agreement has been reached.
READ MORE: Rooney’s DC United talks have ‘already started’
READ MORE: Gossip – Rooney ‘to the USA’, Wenger to replace Big Sam at Everton
He looks set to play his final game in England this Sunday at West Ham. He has played 491 Premier League games, scoring 208 goals and is also his country’s greatest ever goalscorer, surpassing Bobby Charlton’s record against Switzerland in 2016.
Rooney returned to Goodison Park last summer but the 32-year-old has often been left frustrated as his comeback didn’t quite have the ending he wanted.
Despite the club easing early-season relegation worries, discord between fans and new manager Sam Allardyce has made conditions difficult, with the star unhappy at being withdrawn on a number of occasions in the second half of the season.
Wayne Rooney's return to Everton has not provided the fairytale ending to his Premier League that he wanted – but he was not a failure either. He provided some of the best moments in a joyless season at Goodison Park.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) May 10, 2018
Now a deal which will see him play in the MLS is said to be very close.
The former England captain will get one final pay day, and although no contract length has been discussed it is believed a two-year deal is near.
There’s little indication yet of how much he will earn in the States, but former United team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic is said to have taken a big pay cut to join LA Galaxy in April.
Everton’s under pressure manager Allardyce said earlier this week that it would take a “massive bid” for the club to allow him to go.
Wayne Rooney has achieved things only a handful players could have done. Won every major trophy he could've possibly won. Broken all the records. All by the age of 31?
If this is the end, it's been done ride Wazza.
— H. (@IconicYanited) May 10, 2018
“Do I want him to stay?” Allardyce asked. “Yes. There are rumours about Wayne going abroad – in China and America – but at the moment he is an Everton player and an Everton fan.”
Rooney has played 31 times for the club since re-signing from Manchester United, scoring ten times.