January 12, 2006: Real Madrid star David Beckham is moving to Los Angeles Galaxy in one of the biggest deals in soccer history worth over $250 million.

Beckham will move to the US this summer. Real had already announced they are not extending Beckham’s contract. While Beckham is not in the prime of his career, he is still a brand with which the Americans hope to convert the baseball and basketball crazy nation to soccer fields.

Only a personality cult like Beckham, who is the husband of former Spice Girls star Victoria, can do that.
But this may not be an easy task as Beckham is by far not a celebrity in US as he is in Asia or Europe.
Beckham, 31, is a former England captain.

Beckham said soccer has a huge fan following all around the world apart from the US and he hopes to make a difference by roping in kids to get the sport the popularity it deserves. Beckham said he is going to Los Angeles to build a club and team “that's got a lot of potential”. And the news has spurred immediate frenzy.

Galaxy sold 1,000 new season tickets for the season on Thursday morning, after the announcement came, for the season beginning on April 8. Los Angeles Galaxy has on an average 22,000- 24,000 fans. Its stadium at Carson can seat 27,000. Last year attendance was poor. Los Angeles Galaxy now plans an Asia tour and Beckham’s presence would be a boost to its fortunes where the English star is immensely popular. Los Angeles Galaxy is also working on a new team logo and is scouting for a sponsor. With the Beckham tag, that wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Soccer legends Pele and Franz Beckenbauer had played in the defunct North American Soccer League in 1970s. Bechkam’s contract is for five years. On his part, Beckham has not been much in the news for his on field exploits after he moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2003.

While he couldn’t win any titles for Real, he has in his kitty six league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League title for Man U. Beckham and Victoria's moniker have two sons -- Brooklyn and Romeo.