by Shaun Fuentes

Trinidad and Tobago national team midfielder Christopher Birchall has agreed to a four-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy.

Birchall, now in Tobago with the National team preparing for the all-important World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica on June 6, revealed today that he has agreed to terms and conditions with the MLS club and will join them in early July.

Birchall’s contract with Brighton expires on June 30 and he will then sign his new contract with the Los Angeles-based club of which former US National team head coach Bruce Arena is in charge.

“Last week I agreed to the new offer which is a four year deal with the LA Galaxy and I’m really happy about it and looking forward to it,” Birchall said before Monday evening’s training session.

“I was over for a week of training because the coach wanted to get me involved. They tried to sign me in April but Brighton weren’t willing to let me go at the time. But the club had kept in touch. They saw me in the last match against the US and they then followed through with everything.

“The coach has been in charge of the US team and we’ve played them in the past. He said to me basically ‘look I know all about you, just come and train and we’ll sign you’ and the rest followed,” Birchall added.

The former Port Vale man said he was obviously anticipating lining up alongside US midfielder  Landon Donovan and possibly David Beckham. T&T defender Yohance Marshall is also on the Galaxy roster as well as US midfielder Eddie Lewis.

“LA Galaxy are a big club and it’s a privilege for me to get a chance to be part of their set up. There are some players who have done well in the League. Stern has been a hit there and then Cornell and Avery are there too. I’ll be playing with and against players of a good caliber. It’s going to be different to playing in England but it’s something I’m definitely looking forward to.”

Now with his focus on the June 6 qualifier, Birchall is gearing up for the clash with the Costa Ricans for which fellow MLS-based player Avery John is also likely to be in the squad for.

“It’s a massive game for us. This time it’s in Tobago and the distractions are a lot less for us in the build up to the match itself so that’s a good thing. It’s good to be here working under Russell Latapy as the head coach now. He knows what he wants from the team and we as players will go all out to give him that,” Birchall concluded.