Welsh forward Bale completes move to Los Angeles FC

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Welsh forward Gareth Bale joined Los Angeles FC, the Major League Soccer club said on Monday.

"LAFC announced today that the Club has signed forward Gareth Bale to a 12-month contract using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) with options through 2024," it said in a statement.

Bale said that he is "extremely excited" to play for LAFC.

"This is the right place for me and my family and the right time in my career, and I cannot wait to get started working with the team and getting ready to win more trophies in Los Angeles," the 32-year-old said.

Cardiff native Bale, who mainly plays on the right flank, previously made appearances for England's Southampton, and Tottenham Hotspur, and Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

He scored 106 goals in 258 matches for Real Madrid.

Bale won five UEFA Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cup trophies, three UEFA Super Cups, three Spanish La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup), and three Spanish Super Cups with Real Madrid.

In 2008, he helped Tottenham win the English League Cup.

In 2013, Real Madrid had inked Bale from Tottenham for a €101 million ($106 million) transfer fee, which was a world record-breaking fee at the time.

Separately Bale, who has been a Wales national team player since 2006, helped his country advance to the semifinals of the 2016 European football (EURO 2016) championship.

He amassed 105 international caps and scored 38 goals for Wales.

In June, Bale led Wales to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, his nation's first World Cup appearance in 64 years.