Gareth Bale agrees next move after Real Madrid exit and Cardiff City snub

Gareth Bale will join Los Angeles FC after completing his departure from Real Madrid.

The Welsh star has been on the books of the Champions League winners since making what was then a world record move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013. He had been strongly linked with a switch to hometown club Cardiff City, but instead looks set for his MLS bow as he attempts to get more game time ahead of the World Cup.

Bale played a big part in Wales' qualification, scoring twice in the play-off semi-final victory over Austria. However, he barely featured under Carlo Ancelotti in his final Real Madrid season, making just seven appearances in all competitions.

He has agreed a 12-month contract with the option of a further year on both sides. Bale will complete his move when the secondary MLS transfer window opens on July 7. He could make his debut against LA Galaxy a day later.

Other players on the books of the Los Angeles side include former Arsenal starlet Carlos Vela and Euro 2020 winner Giorgio Chiellini. The latter was confirmed as a new signing after making more than 500 appearances for Juventus.

Former United States international defender Steve Cherundolo took over as head coach for the 2022 season after the team missed out on the domestic play-offs last season. However, they have made a fast start this term and hold a narrow lead at the top of the Western Conference.

Chiellini, who was announced by the club after a long stint at Juventus, will be officially unveiled on June 29. "He is a serial winner at the highest levels, and we are grateful he has chosen LAFC to join in our pursuit of trophies," general manager John Thorrington said of the veteran.

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Bale won the Champions League in his first season as a Real Madrid player, scoring in the 2014 final as his team completed 'La Decima'. He added four more European titles, scoring twice more in the 2018 final against Liverpool and sitting on the bench as an unused substitute in the 2022 victory over the same opponents.

The former Southampton youngster could become Wales' most-capped player of all time after the World Cup, with Chris Gunter currently just three ahead of him. Bale is already Wales' all-time top goalscorer with 39 from his 106 caps, but has struggled for minutes at club level.

After playing just 16 times in La Liga during the 2019-20 season, he returned to former club Spurs on loan in 2020-21 and found the net 11 times in the Premier League. His return to the Bernabeu was less productive, though, and his last goal for Los Blancos came in a 3-3 draw against Levante back in August.

Bale helped Wales seal their place at the World Cup when his free-kick was deflected in by Ukraine forward Andriy Yarmolenko in June's play-off game. After the victory, he confirmed he would postpone his retirement for "a little bit", and that means a stint in MLS as Wales get ready to face, England, Iran and the United States in their group in Qatar.