{| class="infobox" style="width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; font-size: 95%; text-align: left;"
|-
! style="background: #faecc8; text-align: center;" | David Beckham Los Angeles Galaxy contract
|-
style="text-align: center; background: #faecc8;" Main Articles: David Beckham, Los Angeles Galaxy
}}
|-
style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;" <br/>David Beckham
}}
|-
| |
{| class="infobox" width="100%" style="margin: 0; cellpadding: 0; padding: 0; border: 0;"
|-
! style="padding-right: 1em;" | Date
| Unknown, announced 2007-01-11
|-
! style="padding-right: 1em;" | Estimated Deal Value
| $275 million USD (£128 million GBP)
|-
! style="padding-right: 1em;" | Length
| 5 years, begins July 1, 2007
|}
|}
On 11 January 2007, it was announced that English footballer David Beckham had signed a $275 million USD (£128 million GBP), five-year deal with Major League Soccer franchise, the Los Angeles Galaxy, which includes a $50 million&nbsp;USD ($10 million&nbsp;USD per year) salary, retention of existing sponsorship contract rights estimated to be worth $25 million USD, merchandising sales, and share of the club profits. This will also make Beckham the first footballer in history to have a stake in the football club for which he plays.<ref name=BBCBreakdown> </ref> The combination of endorsements with a profit-sharing agreement with the club could potentially make the deal one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history.<ref name=Sportal> </ref>

On 13 January 2007, Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello stated during a news conference that Beckham would never again play for the team, saying that he could practice, but would not be permitted to put in any minutes in actual matches for the remainder of his time under contract.<ref>http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1990221,00.html</ref><ref>http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/galaxy/la-sp-beckham14jan14,1,6374553.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer-gal</ref>

On 15 January 2007, published reports quoted Major League Soccer spokesman Stephen Rodriguez as saying that MLS would now try to get Beckham over to the LA Galaxy in time for the start of their season in April. Such a move would require a buy-out of his remianing Real Madrid contract, which would amount to a transfer fee.<ref> http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2154902.ece</ref>

Background

The introduction of the Designated Player Rule (DPR) in 2007 had led to speculation by the media as to whether a Major League Soccer (MLS) team would sign a high profile player. The rule was informally known as the "Beckham Rule" in anticipation of MLS teams signing contracts with players like Beckham.<ref> MLS OKs 'Beckham Rule'</ref> With the Anschutz Entertainment Group, the owners of the Galaxy, making clear their interest in Beckham, many in the media called the DPR the Beckham ruling.<ref>{{cite news |first = Mark | last = Zeigler
|title=