Rooney flies to US, fuelling D.C. United rumours

Everton veteran striker Wayne Rooney on Thursday posted a picture of himself flying to the United States, further fuelling reports that a move to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United is on the cards.

There have been widespread reports that the former England and Manchester United star has agreed to join D.C. United.

According to an ESPNFC report, Rooney is set to finalise a deal once the league's summer window reopens on July 10.

Rooney will become the franchise's highest paid player, The Washington Post said, after signing a two-and-a-half year contract.

The Post added that the 32-year-old could start training with his new team by the end of this week after acquiring his US visa and work permit.

There are chances that Rooney could feature in D.C. United's first match in the new Audi Field on July 14 against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

"He is coming here to win," D.C. United manager Ben Olsen told WTOP.

"That was one of the first things that stood out when I first talked to him. He is not coming here to wind down his career, but to help us become a team that will contend for a title."

Rooney scored 11 goals in 40 matches across all competitions for his boyhood club Everton as they finished eighth in the English Premier League.

For United, Rooney has 253 goals in 559 appearances, winning the English Premier League title five times.

Rooney finished his international career with England with 53 goals in 119 appearances. His final England appearance came on November 11, 2016 in a 3-0 win over Scotland.

--IANS

dm/pur/bg