Beckham loan deal to AC Milan agreed

MILAN, Italy (AP) David Beckham will join AC Milan in January on a three-month loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness and prolong his career with England.

Briefly leaving the Galaxy: David Beckham's three-month loan deal to AC Milan was finalized on Thursday, the Serie A club said. AP PHOTO

The former England captain's stint in Serie A will begin Jan. 7, and he will rejoin his Galaxy teammates in March.

"He will have to go back to Galaxy by the time the MLS starts, and training before that," Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini said Thursday. "David is committed to the LA Galaxy and the MLS. Only David knows his future, but for sure he has a commitment to go back to the MLS and fulfill that."

Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said an agreement was reached Thursday with Beckham's lawyers, although a contract is still to be written.

The 33-year-old midfielder is eager to play in Europe during the MLS offseason to remain fit and available for selection for England, which plays a friendly international at Germany on Nov. 19 before World Cup 2010 qualifying resumes in March.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena declined to say what the Galaxy will get in return from lending Beckham to AC Milan, and that the loan was never sought for longer than three months.

"The terms of the agreement will remain confidential," Arena said on a conference call with reporters. "In my view, this on the part of David was a purely technical rationale. He wants to continue to play for England. He wants to be in a good environment . . . and what better environment can you be in than AC Milan?"