CARSON, Calif. - LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan officially began his 10-week loan spell with Everton of the English Premier League today. Donovan arrived in Liverpool on Saturday and watched from the stands as his new club defeated Carlisle United 3-1 in the Third Round of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.
All details of the loan agreement have now been finalized, meaning that Donovan is now eligible to make his debut for the club this weekend against Arsenal. He will remain with the club through their game on Saturday, March 13 at Birmingham City before re-joining the Galaxy a few days later ahead of the club's season opening game against the New England Revolution on Saturday, March 27 at The Home Depot Center.
Everton currently sit in 11th place in the English Premier League with a 5-7-7 record for 22 points, while also qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League. The club, who has lost just once in their last eight games in all competitions, is scheduled to play at least 12 games in three different competitions during Donovan's stay, starting with Saturday's game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium in London. During Donovan's stay at Goodison Park, Everton will play a total of 10 league games, an FA Cup Fourth Round game against either Birmingham City or Nottingham Forest, as well as their Europa League Second Round matchup with Sporting Lisbon.
The 2009 MLS MVP, Donovan signed a new four-year contract with the Galaxy late last month, keeping him with the club through the 2013 MLS season. The second leading scorer in Galaxy history, Donovan joined the club just prior to the start of the 2005 season and immediately led the team to an MLS Cup/U.S. Open Cup Double. He has scored 64 goals in 121 regular season games with LA, leaving him just six goals shy of Cobi Jones' club record of 70. A three-time winner of the Galaxy's Most Valuable Player award, he has led the team in goals in each of his five seasons in the Southland, while finishing as the team's leader in assists in four of the five years.
The 27-year old Southern California native had 12 goals and six assists in 25 regular season games in 2009 before adding three goals and an assist in four postseason games as he helped lead the Galaxy to the MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2005.
Donovan and the rest of LA Galaxy will kick off the 2010 MLS season on Saturday, March 27 when they host the New England Revolution at The Home Depot Center. This game kicks off at 8 p.m. and fans can purchase tickets now through a special LA Galaxy Holiday Pack. With the Holiday Pack, fans receive four tickets to the game against New England, four Galaxy beanies and a holiday card all for as little as $76. For more information or to purchase a Holiday Pack or Galaxy season tickets for the 2010 MLS season, please visit www.lagalaxy.com or call 1-877-3GALAXY (342-5299).
TRANSACTION - LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan begins ten-week loan with Everton FC of the English Premier League.
