Rooney leaving DC United to return to England
Will finish regular season, playoffs should United advance
Wayne Rooney will leave D.C. United and return to England after this MLS season, ending a spectacular but short-lived spell that revitalized the organization and brought enduring memories to the local soccer scene.
United and Derby County, a second-tier English club, announced Tuesday that they have reached agreement that will allow the superstar forward to become a player and assistant coach this winter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The captain’s contract with United, which earned him a team-record US$3.5 million in base salary this season, was to have run through the 2021 season. United will instead clear his salary off its books starting next year.
It will not receive a transfer fee from Derby.
This week, while a Derby executive met with D.C. officials in Washington and Rooney flew to England for talks with his future employers, United’s effort to persuade him to stay through next season failed.
Rooney, who will turn 34 in October, will remain with United for the final nine regular season matches and the playoffs, should United (9-7-9, 36 points) advance.
The possibility of an immediate transfer to England was still in play until Monday night, but United wanted to retain him for the playoff push.
Besides, the optics of an abrupt move would not have reflected well on anyone involved, except maybe Derby.
Rooney said in a phone interview with the Post shortly after the move was announced: “I started the season with D.C. and I made it clear I wanted to end the season with D.C. For the players, the fans, it’s important I give everything to help go as far as we can.”
The move, multiple people close to the situation said, was prompted by his wife’s desire to live full-time again in England and closer to extended family.
The couple and their four children have been living in Bethesda, Md., after they spent their entire lives in the Manchester-Liverpool area. Derby is 145 kilometres southeast of Liverpool.
“After speaking to Wayne and understanding his difficult situation of being so far away from his family, we have accepted that this is the best decision for all parties,” United co-chairs Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien said in a written statement.
“Wayne is an exceptional leader and one of the most iconic players to play the game, so we look forward to his continued contributions to the team this season.”
Rooney remains in England but is slated to rejoin United on Wednesday for conditioning, then train as normal on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s showdown with fellow international star Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy.
Since his arrival last summer on a free transfer from Everton in the Premier League, Rooney has posted 23 goals and 14 assists in 43 MLS matches.
His impact on the club, though, was immeasurable as he provided a performance and marketing jolt coinciding with the opening of Audi Field in July 2018.
“I remain fully focused on giving my all for the team for the rest of this season and repaying the support shown by the blackand-red faithful by hopefully delivering an MLS Cup to Audi Field,” Rooney said in a statement distributed by United.
“My time in Major League Soccer is something I will always be proud of. While the decision to move home was a tough one, family is everything to us and we make this change to be closer to the ones we love back in England.”