U.S. national team forward Brian McBride, who has played for the Columbus Crew for the last eight years, is moving to English Premier League club Fulham. The two-and-a-half year deal is subject to the granting of a work permit and a successful medical exam.
Major League Soccer will receive a transfer fee, the amount of which has not been disclosed, for the 31-year-old Illinois product.
McBride, who played for the United States in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, scoring three goals, has had two loan stints in England during his MLS career.
During the 2002-03 season, he scored four goals in eight games for Premier League Everton. He scored once in nine games for First Division Preston North End during the 2000-01 season.
At Fulham, McBride joins compatriot Carlos Bocanegra, who made his Premier League debut yesterday.
''Brian is a great talent who can combine assisting attacking play as well as getting his fair share of goals,'' Fulham coach Chris Coleman said. ''He has superb aerial ability and has already proved that he can perform each week at the highest level. His experience of the Premiership will also prove a valuable asset to us in the coming months.''
Two other Americans have been with Fulham: Eddie Lewis (2002-02) and Marcus Hahnemann (1999-2002).
McBride appeared in 161 regular-season and 22 playoff games for the Crew, scoring 71 goals and 48 assists.
Blackburn Rovers had been pursuing McBride, but Fulham was desperate for a new forward after Frenchman Louis Saha, who had scored seven goals in his last seven games for Fulham, moved to Manchester United last weekend.