Former England football captain David Beckham will leave Spain's Real Madrid club at the end of the Spanish season and sign a five-year deal for US side Los Angeles Galaxy worth $1 million a week, the biggest in world sport.
Beckham left Manchester United to join Real Madrid in 2003 but his arrival coincided with the start of a barren period for the Spanish giants, who have not won any major silverware in his time at the club.
The 31-year-old will earn a total $250 million over the five years financed heavily by endorsements and including bonuses based on performance and the future success of the MLS.
With Beckham getting paid up to $50 million over five years for playing soccer, where does the rest of the money come from?
"Most of the value is from David's worldwide endorsement," MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis said on Thursday. "That's a separate deal. That's his deal with CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and 19 Entertainment. That's not something we're involved in.
In a televised interview issued by LA Galaxy, Beckham said: "Another challenge has come up and it is the right time for us to do it. I didn't want to go out there at 34 years old and for people to turn around and say he's only going there to get the money. It's not what I'm going out there to do. I'm going to hopefully build a club and a team that has a lot of potential. I think that is what excites me."
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