Atletico Madrid forward David Villa has revealed that he has agreed to join MLS outfit New York City.
Speculation surrounding the Spaniard's future gathered pace on Saturday when the 32-year-old was pictured seemingly undergoing a medical in Manchester ahead of a move to New York.
Villa, who will travel to the World Cup with Spain this summer, has now revealed that he has indeed agreed to join the MLS side, in addition to branding Atletico "a family".
"I was told that Atletico was a family, but it has been a lot more than I already knew. The triumph is in the united club, a spectacular group in the dressing room. I hope and trust that the coming years will be very successful for Atletico," he said in a video published on Atletico's official website.
"I am very happy to have won the league, a title the club hadn't won in a long time. Finally, after all, it has been a very successful season for Atletico and I'm sure there will be more, because I know what's in there. I'm very excited about the new challenge, that's what I've done my whole career, overcome challenges. It's very important on a sporting level and on a personal level.
"I want to thank everyone for the love they've given me. And 'Cholo' [Diego Simeone] who wished I would stay, and Enrique [Cerezo] and Miguel Angel [Gil Marin], but it's an irresistible offer, a very, very good project, and I have to accept it."
The new MLS season does not start until March 2015.
Matt Law
