Donovan heading back to US
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Article summary
The United States midfield player Landon Donovan has quit Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen to return home.
Article body
United States midfield player Landon Donovan has quit Bayer 04 Leverkusen after only three months back in Germany.
LA link
The 23-year-old asked Leverkusen to release him from his contract in order to be able to continue his career in Major League Soccer (MLS) with LA Galaxy. After a three-year spell on loan with San Jose Earthquakes, Donovan had rejoined Leverkusen at the turn of the year, the club where he first signed youth terms in 1999.
High hopes
This winter, both Leverkusen officials and Donovan were convinced the player capped 60 times by his country would finally be ready to perform on the Bundesliga stage. However, the three-time US Player of the Year was able to make only seven league appearances, six as a substitute. He was also replaced after 53 minutes of his first UEFA Champions League start, the 3-1 second-leg defeat by Liverpool FC on 9 March that led to Leverkusen's exit at the Round of 16.
