Berhalter To Make MLS Switch

Former U.S. international defender Gregg Berhalter has been asked for and been granted a release from his contract with German club 1860 Munich, a move which paves the way for a switch to Major League Soccer. As of Thursday afternoon, it was still unclear for which team the Englewood, New Jersey, native would be suiting up, but the Los Angeles Galaxy currently hold the top spot in the allocation process and would have the first right of refusal; rumors of a trade to D.C. or New York have also been floated.

"I'm leaving (for America) tomorrow," Berhalter told Soccer365. "I think I'm lucky to have had the chance to experience so much during my 15 years over here, but it came to the point where the time was right to come to MLS. I've always wanted to play here, and it was the perfect time."

Berhalter, 35, has spent his entire professional career in Europe since leaving the University of North Carolina in 1994. His longest stay was with Energie Cottbus from 2002 - 2006, a team which as relegated to the 2.Bundesliga in his first year there and then promoted back to the top-flight in his last. During his career, he has also spent time playing in England (Crystal Palace) and the Netherlands (FC Zwolle, Sparta Rotterdam, Cambuur Leeuwarden).

On the international side, Berhalter was capped 43 times for the United States Men's National team from 1994-2006. He was included on the roster for both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, though he was an unused substitute in the most recent edition of the tournament as the U.S. crashed out of the Group Stage. His last official match came in March of '06, playing the full 90 in a 4-1 loss against Germany in Dortmund.