The English Premier League football club Fulham has signed U.S. national team striker Brian McBride to a contract which will net his former Major League Soccer Club $1 million.
McBride is a seven-time MLS All-Star and is the Columbus Crew's all-time leading scorer. The striker, 31, scored 50 goals in 137 MLS games. He led the Crew to the 2002 Open Cup and has spent his entire MLS career with Columbus.
For part of last season, McBride played on loan for Everton, and English Premier League club Blackburn was also interested in him.
McBride started all five games for the U.S. national team at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, scoring game-winning goals against Portugal and Mexico.
McBride also played for Preston North End of the English first division in 2000 and 2001. He was with the German second division club VfL Wolfsburg in 1994-95. His deal with Fulham is contingent on passing a physical exam and being granted a work permit.