The topic of contracts is almost taboo in MLS. Length of contracts is an unknown - at least, it's not readily available. Unlike other American sports where the fact that an NFL player is in the last year of a three-year deal or some baseball player inked a four-year deal with a club, in MLS that topic is not often known. PR people never give you a straight answer if you ask (even if you ask nicely) and players themselves don't always want to share or act like they are uncertain of the length of their deal.
But Paul Oberjuerge tells us exactly how long Landon Donovan's deal is and has more information about option years.
Turns out, it won't be easy at all for Donovan to head across the pond and make his future in Europe. With the length of the deal, the financial demands MLS has for Donovan and his ever-increasing age, Donovan will probably play out his days with the Galaxy.
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That's too sad to even contemplate. I still hold out hope that he will someday get to realize his dream and play in Europe. It may not be for a huge club, but that doesn't matter.
He wants to play in Europe, even if he's 30. I hope he gets to do so.
haha!
Ha!
Once again MLS may want to consider the long term damage not allowing him to leave may cause them if he makes it very clear he wants to transfer out. Sure they can PIMP Donovan for all they want for the next 3 seasons but it will serve every young rising star why you don't want to sign a long term contract with MLS. If the Dempseys, Josephs, Twellmans, and Johnsons did not already drive that home. No options! Have an escape clause!
Now Donovan can only hope that an oil rich English club will spend silly money for his services.
Dude half your examples were in fact sold overseas, not sure where you are going with that. And no one forced them to sign the contract, maybe they should switch agents or something.
Dude Dempsey could have been gone to the EPL if the MLS had not held up his transfer. Remember he wanted to leave during the summer transfer window but NE/MLS held up the transfer b/c they said they owed it to their fans blah blah blah. Johnson had two transfers held up the first one by MLS the second to La Liga was held up by KC. With the exception of Johnson all those players had signed contract extensions. Johnson had signed a long term contract which prevented his two previous attempts to transfer.
Your right to say no one made them signed those contracts which is why I said DON'T signed a contract with extentions, options, or have an escape clause. I think a lot of younger players and agents have learned from those above-mentioned players mistakes. But Donovon may serve as the biggest example of how signing a big long term contract with MLS can really come back to haunt you in the end.
When it's all said and done, no one can be blamed for signing the contract except the player.
If you think there is even a remote chance that a club will put a contract in front of you that you won't understand, it is your responsibility to hire a legal team that you are confident will spell it out for you adequately before putting pen to paper.
What about that exception where a guy can buy out his contract if he's been there for a certain amount of time - I forget the name of it, but something legal that happened in international soccer. Luis, you might want to look up the details & see if that applies.
Hey, Luis: This is PaulO. I'm doing a story on Landon and can use your help. I can be reached at my email: paul.oberjuerge@gmail.com ... and then I can give you a fone number. Thanks much. (I'm leaving this here because I don't see an e-mail for you on the site.)
That is disappointing. But on the other hand, he is a free DP for the Galaxy.
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