Former FIFA World Player of the Year, Kaká, is heading to the MLS. The Brazilian midfielder has parted ways with Italian club A.C. Milan and will sign with Orlando City, according to ESPN's Taylor Twellman.
Breaking News: @OrlandoCitySC have signed their 1st DP @KAKA. He will be loaned out to Sao Paolo until 2015. @MLS making moves. #WorldCup
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) June 19, 2014
Orlando City, along with New York City FC will both be joining the MLS in 2015 to expand the league to 21 teams. The MLS has grown rapidly since it was it was created as the top level of U.S. soccer in 1996 when it had 10 teams.
Earlier in the month NYCFC made noise when they signed Spain's all-time leading goal scorer, David Villa, as their first ever player.
Orlando City will loan Kaká to São Paulo, the Brazilian club where he first played professional soccer, for the remainder of the 2014 season and will then join Orlando City for the start of the 2015 season.
Kaká, who was on the Brazil team that won the 2002 World Cup, will be joining several other players who are playing in America after having successful careers in European club soccer. Thierry Henry has found success in the tail end of his career with the New York Red Bulls after being a legend with English Premier League side Arsenal. Same can be said for Irish forward Robbie Keane, who plays for the LA Galaxy after making a name for himself with Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
The specifics of Kaká's contract have not been reported, but a player of his pedigree will undoubtedly be among the highest paid players in the MLS. Currently American forward Clint Dempsey is the highest paid player in the MLS, earning 6.7 million a season for Seattle Sounders F.C. Jermaine Defoe, an English forward is currently the highest paid foreign player in the league, earning 6.2 million per year with Toronto F.C.
Kaká is now 32-years-old, but Orlando will hope he still has some gas left in the tank after scoring seven goals in 30 games in what was a disappointing season for AC Milan, finishing eighth in Serie A. The attacking midfielder participated in three World Cups for Brazil, though he is not in this year's team.
Kaká's decision to play for Orlando is believed to due to his friendship with the team's owner, Flavio Augusto da Silva, a Brazilian businessman, reports MLSsoccer.com.