David Beckham has said he will buy a Major League Soccer team at the end of his playing career. The England, AC Milan and LA Galaxy star plans to exercise a clause in his contract with the American club once it ends in 2011 which allows him to buy one of the MLS franchise teams.

The BBC reports Beckham as saying, “I have the right to own an MLS franchise, which I will action immediately after I have stopped playing.” Beckham reiterated his “commitment to develop soccer in the United States, which is something I am passionate about”, and said his family will remain in Los Angeles.

The BBC reports that the MLS would partner Beckham with a patron with major financial clout if he buys a franchise. It reports that Las Vegas and San Diego are the likely venues for Beckham’s team. The cities have long expressed an interest in joining MLS and are close to Beckham’s Los Angeles home.