Leverkusen investing in US soccer
Donovan has seen his contract with Leverkusen extended by one year to 2008, while Bayer allow the 20-year-old to stay in America for a minimum of two more seasons, both set to be with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Leverkusen believe their agreement to bow to Donovan's own request to the Germans to let him stay in the US will continue to foster their link with MLS, which continues to grow between two entities.
"We are excited to have reached yet another arrangement that confirms our long-term interest in developing some of America's best young talent," said Leverkusen general manager Reiner Calmund.
"This co-sharing agreement reflects the growing relationship between Bayer Leverkusen and Major League Soccer."
Leverkusen are struggling at the wrong end of the Bundesliga table, which many believed was going to be the pivotal factor in the talks that have taken place over the past couple of months.
MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis and Donovan's agent Richard Motzkin travelled to Germany to speak with the director of sport at the BayArena, Ilja Kaenzig, to finalise the new terms of the co-sharing extension.
"We have decided that Landon will stay with the San Jose Earthquakes and MLS for an additional two years," said Kaenzig.
"As a key player for both San Jose and the United States national team, we're confident he is remaining in an environment that will continue his development as one of the world's elite talents."
Donovan noted that he would have expected to go into the first team at Leverkusen, had he not stood in the way of his return to Germany, noting: "The guy who coached me there on the reserve team e-mailed frequently and he would ask me what was going on. We have a good relationship and he is a nice guy.
"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."
And head coach Klaus Toppmoller confirmed that he would have loved to have had Donovan's abilities at his disposal after the poor first half to their Bundesliga season, but understood that allowing him to stay in America was in his best interests.
"Of course I would have loved to have Landon back with our team this season," he said.
"As we saw at the World Cup this summer, Landon is obviously one of the most exciting young players in the world.
"However, in the best interest of all the parties involved, we feel it will be best for Landon to remain in the United States where he can continue to develop and promote the game and MLS as American soccer's icon."
As far as Donovan's current happiness in being able to stay in his home country, he simply added: "I'm just excited to be here and it's nice to have this behind me and just concentrate on playing soccer again."
