CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy and captain Landon Donovan have announced that the club’s all-time leading scorer will forgo any potential loan opportunities when the international transfer window re-opens on January 1. Donovan, who played more than 50 games with the Galaxy, U.S. National Team and while on loan with Everton in 2010, was named to the MLS Best XI team again last season after scoring seven goals and adding an MLS-best 16 assists in 24 regular season games.
READ: Donovan named MLSsoccer.com's US Player of the Year
"We think in the best interest of the club and the player that Landon continues his postseason break and begins preparations for what will be a challenging year in 2011 at both the domestic and international levels,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “We expect Landon to join our club for the start of preseason training next month as we begin to prepare for the 2011 MLS season.”
Donovan, who was named the U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year for a record fourth time on Monday, has gone on loan prior to each of the past two seasons, joining Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga in January 2009 and Everton of the English Premier League in January 2010. In each instance, the 28-year-old returned to the Galaxy in mid-March, prior to the start of the MLS regular season.
“While I enjoyed my time at Everton last season and still appreciate all the support their fans have given me, I feel that it is important to continue to rest and recover this offseason as opposed to going on loan,” Donovan said. “I never considered being loaned to a club other than Everton, but I have been playing nearly non-stop for the past two years and I believe that this decision will allow me to perform at my best for the Galaxy and the National Team throughout the upcoming year. I look forward to re-joining my Galaxy teammates for the start of preseason training next month and beginning our quest for another MLS Cup championship.”
Donovan and the Galaxy will open the 2011 MLS season on Tuesday, March 15 when they head to Seattle to take on the Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in MLS First Kick 2011, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game, which will kick off at 6:30 p.m., will be shown live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, as well as online at ESPN3.com. The Galaxy will then host the New England Revolution in their home opener at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 20 at The Home Depot Center. Tickets for this match are available with a Galaxy Kickoff Pack that includes four tickets to the home opener and two Galaxy blankets, starting at $96. BUY NOW
