Wayne Rooney set to become one of the highest paid players in MLS

After leaving training mysteriously this morning (a continued knee injury was later alleged), further details on Wayne Rooney’s move to DC United in MLS are emerging.

The Washington Post, which has been at the front of this story from the beginning, is reporting that the English veteran will become one of the highest paid players in the United States’ top league:

United is prepared to pay him between $5 million and $8 million per season, said a well-connected figure who requested anonymity in order to speak about the negotiations.

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Rooney, 32, is collecting an estimated $10 million this season with Everton, the Premier League club for which he has scored 11 goals in all competitions but none since a torrid stretch in November and December.

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Rooney and United have agreed to broad terms on the proposed deal, multiple sources said, but have yet to iron out the details, such as incentives. There is also the matter of a lucrative transfer fee that Everton would demand because Rooney is under contract next season.

Between the salary and transfer fee, United could end up spending between $15 million and $20 million on a single player.

It’s hard not to feel like Everton are coming out on the good end of this deal. The Blues are set to rid themselves of a player whose age was a number, and didn’t fit schematically, either. Wayne Rooney was - as ever - committed to the cause, for which we applaud him. But in turning a profit and turning Wayne loose, Everton have worked a small miracle.

Everton say Wayne Rooney will not play in the final game of the season on Sunday, and so, it seems as if we’ve rather unceremoniously seen the last of the legend in the Premier League. Good luck, Wayne - we’re sure you won’t have any trouble adjusting to a “United” that wears red.