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From the moment there was discussion about Steven Gerrard leaving Liverpool, MLS was heavily linked, as it has rightly or wrongly been viewed as the perfect late-career league for aging European stars. The league will eventually be on its way to outgrowing that reputation, but for now it more or less fits, and it seemed a good fit for Gerrard, and, depending on the location, would offer a change of pace from a place he had lived and played his entire life.
Los Angeles was always the frontrunner, with Landon Donovan retiring from an excellent playing career of his own and vacating a Designated Player spot in the process. Some tenuous links to New York City FC emerged along the way, but in the end it's going to be the current MLS Cup holders that sign Gerrard to a lucrative deal:
BREAKING via @JeffreyCarlisle: Steven Gerrard to join LA Galaxy (18-month pro-rated deal, $6m per year). More soon on http://t.co/bCtGb5fcSR
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 3, 2015
And that will be that. Official confirmation from the club and player will come soon enough, the next four and a half months will pass, and Steven Gerrard's playing career will no longer occur in Liverpool. He'll join the Galaxy in the middle of their season, and it'll be interesting to see how his time is managed from there. Gerrard heads to LA on the heels of long stretch without a break, having logged a ton of minutes during the 2013-2014 season, played every match of England's World Cup campaign, and featuring heavily for Liverpool this season.
Regardless, he'll become their best player immediately, and however he's used it is a near certainty that he'll provide plenty of quality for a side that's been among MLS' most successful. He will also join former Liverpool teammate Robbie Keane, who currently serves as the club's captain.
