SPORTS> North America
MLS expansion team Sounders FC signs Ljungberg
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-29 15:01
SEATTLE _ Freddie Ljungberg insists his move to the expansion Seattle Sounders team in US Major League Soccer is more than an end-of-career pay day.

The former Sweden international, who played nine seasons with English Premier League club Arsenal, was released by West Ham in the European off-season, just one year into a four-year deal.

Ljungberg's final seasons at Arsenal and his single season at West Ham were blighted by a succession of injuries, but the 31-year-old says he can still provide value for Seattle, which enters the MLS next season.

"I felt if I was going to do this, it's a sincere thing, and really help the people over here with soccer, I should go now," Ljungberg said Tuesday. "I shouldn't go in three years' time when I'm past my peak. I feel really happy to be here."

Ljungberg was signed as Seattle's designated player, whose pay does not count under salary cap calculations. The rule was introduced ahead of the 2007 season, allowing Los Angeles to sign former England captain David Beckham.

Hollywood film producer and director Joe Roth, who is the majority owner of the Sounders, said he initially was not going to sign a designated player, but changed his mind when Ljungberg became available.

"It was my promise to the city of Seattle that we wouldn't come on as a straggling expansion team," Roth said, adding Ljungberg's signing was part of ambitious plans to make the MLS playoffs at the first attempt.

"Having Freddie in the center of the field is going to help us get there. It's a great honor.

"It's going to help us as we get on our feet, and not act like an expansion team."

Ljungberg becomes Seattle's fourth signing, joining veteran American goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who played at the top level in England, Spain and Germany. French forward Sebastien Le Toux and Gambian midfielder Sanna Nyassi, who both currently play with the Sounders in the second tier of US football, had also been signed for the big league next season.