soccer

Landon Donovan to Come Out of Retirement and Return to LA Galaxy

Landon Donovan is expected to come out of retirement and return to the Los Angeles Galaxy for the remainder of the season.

He's baaaaack.

Landon Donovan is expected to come out of retirement and return to the Los Angeles Galaxy for the remainder of the season.

Multiple outlets reported on Thursday morning that Donovan would end his nearly two-year long retirement and sign a contract with his former team for the final seven games of the regular season.

Donovan is Major League Soccer's all-time leading goal scorer (144) and leader in assists (136), but in a surprising move he decided to leave the game he loved after the 2014 season.

The all-time leading scorer in U.S. Men's Soccer history (57) announced his retirement at the end of the 2014 regular season and then left the sport at the pinnacle after leading the LA Galaxy to their fifth MLS Cup.

In 2015, Donovan went back to school, got married, had a child, worked as a broadcaster, coached in the MLS All-Star Game and recently became a part-owner of English Premiere League Club, Swansea City.

However, the 34-year-old now appears to be joining the likes of Brett Favre, Michael Jordan and Mario Lemieux as stars in their respected sports who simply decided retirement life wasn't for them.

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Donovan could join the Galaxy as soon as Thursday afternoon with an announcement and press conference likely to follow this weekend. He has not been training with the team, so it is unknown when he could first take the field, but he is eligible to play in the team's game on Sunday against Orlando City.

Donovan's announcement comes just a week after midfielder Nigel de Jong left the team to join Turkish club Galatasary. There was no transfer fee involved in that transaction, saving the Galaxy $6 million dollars since De Jong did not play in five of the team's final eight games.

It's likely that the release of De Jong and subsequent money saved as a result, helped pave the way for Donovan's decision.

It's unknown at this time if Donovan's return is only for the remainder of this season, or future seasons as well, but one thing for certain is that the star midfielder will not wear his customary No. 10 jersey that he's donned for the entirety of his career. That number currently belongs to designated player Giovani dos Santos.

Check back periodically to this article for more updates on a formal announcement from both player and club as well as when you can expect to see Donovan take the field again for the LA Galaxy.

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