Gareth Bale has agreed to join the Los Angeles Football Club, making the decorated Welshman the second European player of significance to sign with the Black & Gold ahead of the upcoming MLS transfer window.

Like Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, whom LAFC officially unveiled last week, Bale will not occupy one of the club’s three designated player spots during his 12-month contract, according to a report by MLSSoccer.com, which includes an option for an 18-month extension, per The Athletic.

A source familiar with the terms confirmed the initial deal will be paid for with Targeted Allocation Money.

Out of contract for the first time since joining Real Madrid in 2013, the superstar forward leaves Spain as a free agent after collecting numerous domestic and European titles, including five UEFA Champions League cups following a victory over Liverpool at the end of May.

Bale made a career-low seven appearances for Real Madrid last season, finishing his tenure with Los Blancos scoring 106 goals in 258 games. His move to MLS comes weeks after Wales qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 64 years by beating Ukraine on June 5.

Wales faces the U.S. men’s national team in its first group match Nov. 21. Qualifying for the 2022 tournament in Qatar likely delayed Bale’s reported retirement.

Speaking with the press prior to a UEFA Nations League match against Belgium earlier this month, Bale noted the need to play regular minutes ahead of the World Cup.

“Any player will tell you, playing week-in week-out, your body becomes more robust, you get used to it and you get fitter by doing that,” Bale said. “I just need to play games and I’ll be good to go.”

Bale’s first opportunity to see the field for LAFC comes when the secondary transfer window opens one day prior to a July 8 showdown at home against the L.A. Galaxy.

Between now and then, top-of-the-table LAFC will play three MLS matches, beginning with a high noon clash against the best road team in the league at the midway point of the season.

For the first time since 2019, the New York Red Bulls, sporting a 5-1-2 record away from their grounds in Harrison, New Jersey, travel cross country to face LAFC (9-3-3, 30 points) in league competition.

Over its previous 13 league matches on the road, New York is 8-3-2, outscoring opponents 19-11.

The Red Bulls (7-4-5, 26 points) are the league’s best-pressing team in their opponent’s half, which helps explain their success away from home, said LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo. Winning second balls, creating chances off turnovers and quickly putting attacking options in the box have the visitors tied for second place in the Eastern Conference.

“They just came off a high beating New York City in Open Cup, so they’re a team that comes into this game with a lot of momentum,” LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta said.

When the Red Bulls visited LAFC three years ago, they fell 4-2. This year, the Red Bulls have gone 1-1-2 record against Western Conference opposition. LAFC is 4-0-1 versus the East.

Led by a potent midfield featuring current MLS player of the week, 25-year-old Brazilian Luquinhas, “they want to go to goal as fast as possible,” noted LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who has conceded 15 goals against 42 shots in 14 league starts for the Black & Gold.

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Returning to Banc of California Stadium for the first time since defeating San Jose on May 28, LAFC carries the most points and goals in MLS into the match. And with a game in hand, LAFC is four points clear of their hard-charging visitors in the Supporters’ Shield race.

LAFC vs. NEW YORK RED BULLS

When: 12:08 p.m. Sunday

Where: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles

TV/Radio: ABC, ESPN Deportes/710 AM, ESPN app, 980 AM