MLS announced on Wednesday Landon Donovan would remain in the league the next two years after reaching an agreement with Germany's Bayer Leverkusen.

MLS and Bayer will share his rights, and the league will pay a reported $100,000 per year to Bayer to keep the San Jose star in MLS for the next two seasons.

Here's what Donovan had to say Wednesday to the San Jose press:

Opening remarks:

''I'm obviously the most excited person of all. If you know me, then you know that I'm really glad to know that I will be here.

''There are some people who I need to thank first. Richard Motzkin, my agent, who kept me sane during this whole thing and always was there to let me know how things were going, and especially MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis, who traveled to Germany. He traveled there and did everything possible to keep me here. And to [Bayer] Leverkusen, they could have called me back. They aren't having the best of times right now, so they could have called me back, but they played a major part in this to help me out and make this happen.

''Obviously, I want to thank the Earthquakes as well. Two years ago, when I was sitting here in front of a lot of you, I was a bit iffy whether I wanted to be here in San Jose instead of L.A. But now I am glad that I'm here, not there. I love it here and I think we are going to be pretty good this year.

''I'm just excited to be here and it's nice to have this behind me and just concentrate on playing soccer again.''

On his personal communication with German club Bayer Leverkusen:

''The guy who coached me there on the reserve team, we e-mailed frequently and he would ask me what was going on. We have a good relationship, and he is a nice guy. He would check on me. He is the assistant coach now, and this year he has been telling me to come back and that I would play and that I would be a big part of the team. Of course, that sounded good, but I told them and Richard to just figure it out and let me know about it when it was done.''

On dealing with his increased national profile:

''It's great. That's part of it. I've learned since I've been part of the World Cup that flying back and forth across the country is just part of it, it's part of the job. Of course, soccer comes first, and there were times this year when I was doing appearances and this and that, and I don't want people to think that I'm not giving my all on the soccer field because of that. But that is part of it, and I will do it. It is not a burden to be yourself everyday. If someone has to do it and that has to be me, then that is fine.''

On returning to play in Germany at some point in his career:

''I certainly didn't think two years ago that I would be sitting here now saying I will be here for two more years. I thought then that after two years I would be back in Germany and that was fine with me at the time. Anything is possible. This whole year I thought that I was going back to Germany. Who knows what will happen? I am forever changing. When I was 16 I wanted to play in Germany, when I was 18 I wanted to play here. Who knows? I am happy to be back.''

On playing in San Jose:

''I love my life here. I'm happy here. It is intriguing to think about being in L.A. and closer to my family and friends, but I think I've said it before that I probably wouldn't be as focused on soccer as much, my social life might be more of a distraction. But I really have taken a liking to life here and a real liking to the fans here. I am also very loyal, and I realize that the Earthquakes and the players on the team have done a lot for me. Everything has been good here, so why should I leave that? Why would I want to leave it?''