David Villa’s transfer from Atletico Madrid to New York City FC is a done deal, according to a source who confirmed the news to World Soccer Talk. Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News newspaper has published a photograph of Villa heading into a hospital in Manchester to complete his medical ahead of an announcement that is expected to be made this week.
David Villa, Spain’s all-time top goalscorer, will join MLS’s New York City FC and will play his first official league game for the club in spring 2015. He’s expected to continue playing in La Liga until early next year before he moves Stateside to play in MLS.
The marquee signing by New York City FC is particularly impressive given that Villa was named today to Spain’s 23-man squad for the World Cup. Arguably, the signing of David Villa will be one of the biggest in MLS history. David Beckham had more cache as an international sports star, but Villa has won more at the top level. Thierry Henry, meanwhile, joined New York Red Bulls after he retired from playing international football with France. Villa, while 32, is still winning major honors at the club level and is ready to embark on what will be his final World Cup tournament in a competition where Spain is one of the favorites to win.
Here’s the Manchester Evening News photograph of David Villa going into a local Manchester hospital to take a medical ahead of his signing with New York City FC:
