David Beckham's request for a permanent move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan, where he has been on loan, fizzled out on Friday when the Italian club failed to raise their bid for the player.
Beckham, who joined the Galaxy in 2007, had expressed his desire to stay in Serie A in a bid to play one more World Cup with England in South Africa next year.
"Today's deadline imposed by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber regarding a resolution of David Beckham's potential transfer to AC Milan has passed and we did not receive an acceptable offer for the player," Galaxy General Manager Bruce Arena said in a statement.
"As a result, David remains an LA Galaxy player and we look forward to having him back with the club starting March 9."
The Galaxy rejected an initial bid made by Milan last week.
Beckham, 33, moved to the United States midway through 2007 on a five-year deal as part of an orchestrated bid to lift American soccer to a new level.