However, after one solid season in the Premier League, Ibrahimovic suffered a leg injury that limited him to just seven appearances in 2017-18. Struggling to find playing time, Ibrahimovic signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy last month. Though he’s moving to a prestigious market, it’s coming at a substantial cost. Ibrahimovic was earning $27 million with Manchester United. With the Galaxy, he’ll make $1.4 million this year – a pay cut of 95 percent. The striker took out a full-page ad in the Los Angeles Times announcing his move. The ad read, “Dear Los Angeles, You’re welcome.” MLS clubs face a $4 million wage cap. However, they can exceed that number thanks to the Designated Players Rule, created after David Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007. Beckham ultimately earned $255 million in just six MLS seasons. Beckham’s salary was only $6.5 million per year, with the majority of his earnings coming from endorsements and revenue sharing. Ibrahimovic won’t classify as a “designated player,” but he could still make plenty of money from endorsement deals. His outgoing personality – he has a penchant for playing practical jokes on teammates – will serve him well in L.A. He can also back up his arrogant attitude on the field. He’s Sweden’s all-time leading goal scorer and has won the league cup in four different countries. Ibrahimovic is looking forward to showing off his game for a new fanbase. That’ll have to be a special reward for him – because his paycheck is taking a hit.
