Gareth Bale is going to the US to play for Magic Johnson's team

Gareth Bale, in a match with Wales against the Netherlands on June 14 in Rotterdam.Peter Dejong (AP)

Gareth Bale will continue his career in the American soccer league, the MLS, after having closed an agreement with Los Angeles FC, a team that has NBA legend Earvin

Johnson among its owners, according to the website mlssoccer.com, and This newspaper has confirmed in sources close to the footballer.

The 32-year-old player, who formally ends his relationship with Real Madrid next Thursday, has agreed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles team, which could be extended later for another 18 months.

Bale was free after finishing in Madrid and was looking for a team with which he could reach, at least, the World Cup in Qatar next November.

On June 5, Wales qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 64 years, and reaching that tournament has been the player's main goal this past season, in which he played 289 minutes for his club and 782 for his national team. .

See you soon, Los Angeles.

👊 @LAFC @LAFC3252 pic.twitter.com/GVP8WVWLPe

— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) June 25, 2022

In recent weeks, and especially after he qualified for the World Cup, there has been a lot of speculation about the footballer's future when his contract expires at the Bernabéu.

Even the president of Getafe, Ángel Torres, assured in a public act that his agent, Jonathan Barnett, had telephoned him to offer it to him.

Bale denied it a few days later at a press conference in which he was asked about his future: "I'm not going to go to Getafe, that's for sure."

In any case, the destination that seemed to have the most body as reported by BBC Wales was Cardiff City, the English Second team from his hometown, whose facilities he visited on Wednesday.

It is the same club that the footballer fantasized about leaving last summer.

Before last season began, he told some teammates that his intention was for Madrid to loan him out to Cardiff City, according to sources with access to the dressing room.

The club didn't even think about it.

The Welshman has not been the only high-profile signing of LAFC these days.

On June 13, he announced the hiring of Italian central defender Giorgio Chiellini after warning in May that he would not continue at Juventus.

The Next Chapter@LAFC pic.twitter.com/AV4ITgDfx3

— Giorgio Chiellini (@chiellini) June 13, 2022

Both the Italian and Bale, now on vacation, must wait for the second MLS transfer window to open on July 7, where the season is already underway.

Both would technically be available to play on July 8 against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

The team Bale is committed to, Los Angeles FC, founded in 2014, is currently at the top of the Western Conference of the American league, with 30 points after 15 games, two points ahead of second-placed Real Salt Lake. .

You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on