English soccer star Wayne Rooney, the all-time leading scorer for England’s national team and Manchester United in the Premier League, poses with his D.C. United jersey in 2018. He just announced he was leaving the team.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP Photo

A little over a year after joining D.C. United, Wayne Rooney is already headed back to England.

The 33-year-old star forward will join England’s second-tier Derby County as a player-coach after wrapping up his 2019 season with Major League Soccer, D.C. United announced on Tuesday.

Rooney became D.C. United’s highest paid player last year after signing a record transfer deal from Premier League Club Everton. At the time, the Washington Post reported his two-and-a-half year contract was worth a whopping $13 million.

“I remain fully focused on giving my all for the team for the rest of this season and repaying the support shown by the Black-and-Red faithful by hopefully delivering an MLS Cup to Audi Field,” Rooney said in a statement released by D.C. United. “My time in Major League Soccer is something I will always be proud of.”

Rooney said his decision to return to England, where he has made hundreds of appearances and is widely considered to be one of the country’s greatest players, was prompted by a desire to move closer to extended family.

“While the decision to move home was a tough one, family is everything to us and we make this change to be closer to the ones we love back in England,” Rooney said.

Rooney, his wife, and his four children moved to Bethesda last summer as D.C. United was preparing to debut its new stadium at Audi Field in Southwest’s Buzzard Point. Within just three MLS games, Rooney was named D.C. United’s team captain. He was quickly credited with revitalizing the franchise, which was stuck with just two wins in 14 games before Rooney joined the roster.

In his brief stint with D.C. United, Rooney has scored 23 goals and 14 assists over the course of 43 game appearances. As the team’s leading scorer in 2018, he helped bring D.C. United to the MLS playoffs, and helped the team finish fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Some of Rooney’s most memorable moments with D.C. United include a goal from beyond midfield against Orlando City last June, and an absolute bullet of a free kick against Toronto FC in October 2018. He also played a role in the District’s civic life, helping to cut the ribbon on new soccer fields at RFK Campus alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser.

On Tuesday, D.C. United co-chairmen Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien said that Rooney has been an “exceptional leader” for the team. “After speaking to Wayne and understanding his difficult situation of being so far away from his family, we have accepted that this is the best decision for all parties,” the statement said. “Our main focus now is the 2019 MLS Season and ensuring we make a push towards the playoffs with the ultimate goal of bringing an MLS Cup back to the District.”

Apparently, D.C. United is already on the lookout for major names to fill the void that Rooney will leave behind. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and Italy striker Mario Balotelli are being considered as possible recruits come January’s transfer window.

Back home, Rooney is the English national football team’s all-time highest scorer with 53 goals throughout 119 appearances from 2003 to 2018. He is also the second-highest scorer in England’s famed Premier League with a total of 208 goals.

This story has been updated with information on possible new recruits for D.C. United.

Filed Under: D.C. United; soccer, soccer, sports, Wayne Rooney,