David Beckham ... will spend three months in Italy with AC Milan

MILAN, Italy (AP)

David Beckham will join AC Milan in January on a three-month loan deal from the Los Angeles Galaxy to maintain his fitness and prolong his England career.

The former England captain's brief Serie A career will begin January 7, but he will rejoin his Galaxy teammates in March.

Have to go back

"He will have to go back to Galaxy by the time the MLS starts, and training before that," Milan sporting director Umberto Gandini said yesterday. "David is committed to the LA Galaxy and the MLS. Only David knows his future, but for sure he has a commitment to go back to the MLS and fulfil that."

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said an agreement was reached yesterday with Beck-ham's lawyers, although a contract is still to be written.

Remain match-fit

The 33-year-old midfielder is keen to play in Europe in the MLS off season to remain match-fit and available for selection for England, which next plays a friendly at Germany on November 19 before World Cup 2010 qualifying resumes in March.

Your national team

"What motivates any top-level footballer is the fact that playing for your national team is the greatest honour and having the potential to play in another World Cup is what every player dreams about," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told British broadcaster Sky Sports News. "This is what really motivates him."

Beckham is one appearance away from matching the record 108 for an outfield player-held by 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton holds the overall England record of 125.

Dropped him from the team

"Milan has made a good acquisition," said England manager Fabio Capello, who also coached Beckham at Real Madrid. "In Madrid, I dropped him from the team because he signed with Los Angeles, but he continued to come and train and I put him back on the team."

Beckham will likely undergo medical tests on December 20 and be introduced a day later when the club will unveil his jersey number. He is set to travel with Milan to Dubai for a midwinter training camp, which includes a friendly.

Beckham's first competitive game for Milan could come in the capital against AS Roma on January 11.

He will become the first English player to play for the club since 1987 when Ray Wilkins and Mark Hateley left the club.

Beckham will join a stellar midfield at the San Siro including Italy's World Cup champions Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso, plus Massimo Ambrosini, Mathieu Flamini and Clarence Seedorf.