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Tim Howard is Coming Back to America, Transfer Deal with Colorado Rapids Set

Tim Howard's transfer from Everton to the Rapids is officially inked.

"Tim Timiny, Tim Timiny, Tim, Tim Terr-oo. We've got Tim Howard and he says 'fuck you!" Yes, friends, that's right. After a prolonged set of negotiations, U.S. international Tim Howard is returning to the good old US of A with his transfer to the Colorado Rapids. He is slated to be the coveted designated player for the Rapids, and will be raking in something in the ballpark figure of $2.5 - $2.8 million per year until 2019, sources told ESPN's Jeff Carlisle.

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The deal has been in the works for a while, though earlier in the year, rumors were flying that Howard shocked the Rapids with demands of upwards of $20 million for four years (though this was reported by the ever-exaggerating The Sun). But whatever the negotiations were, they've settled and Howard's move to the U.S. is officially inked. The 37-year-old keeper's contract with English Premier League side Everton—with whom he's played since 2006—was set to expire in 2018. But he hasn't been playing much for them as of late, and they permitted a move for a transfer fee of $600,000, according to Carlisle.

Howard's return to the U.S.—and the MLS—would be the first time he's played for a U.S. club since 2003 with the New York Metro Stars (currently the Red Bulls). His time in England also involved a stint as keeper of Manchester United from 2003-2006.

Howard spoke to ESPN's SportsCenter, saying,

"I've had a fantastic career in England, in particular at Everton Football Club," he said. "It's not done yet, but I think as football clubs move forward and players have careers to think about, you always have to make decisions. Sometimes those are every four years and sometimes they creep up on you, and this one crept up on me because I had two years remaining here at Everton that I planned on seeing out."

"When I spoke to my family, when I spoke to Roberto Martinez and the chairman [Bill Kenwright] as well, I thought the decision, and the timing more than anything -- because in life it's all about timing—and obviously with my discussions with Colorado, it just seemed to be the right move. It was an instinctual gut feeling, and I'm excited about it."

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Welcome home, brother. Welcome home.

UPDATE (2:30pm):

We spoke with Tim Howard on a media conference call hosted by MLS, and he characterized the moment as "an exciting day, but also a sad day," hitting a few blue notes about leaving the Everton side with which he's played for nearly a decade.

He added that's he's ready to take the Rapids—who sat at dead-last in the Western Conference in 2015 and second-to-last in the league—to MLS Cup, adding that one of the big factors in his decision was that the ambitions of the Rapids owners aligned with his own for his shift back to the league. Former USMNT keeper, MLS player, and current commentator Kasey Keller told the Denver Post earlier this week that he anticipated Howard's contribution "could be the difference between a team conceding 10 extra goals." Speculation, sure, but given Howard's track record, it's not an entirely unthinkable number.

Howard also addressed a question about the weight of family matters in his decision, saying that his decision to make the move was indeed compelled by his family—adding that all of his contract decisions are—and that he's "looking forward to the sunshine" in Commerce City. Despite the changeup of adjusting to life back on his original side of the pond, Howard said he won't be anticipating much culture shock when he returns stateside.