Manchester City Secure Six-Month Loan Deal for Frank Lampard

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has returned to the Premier League on loan from New York City FC and will play for Manchester City until the month of January. Lampard was released by Chelsea in the summer but signed for Manchester City’s new Major League Soccer franchise in the United States. New York City FC won’t begin its inaugural season until March of 2015.

The move allows Lampard to work on his fitness in anticipation for NYCFC’s first MLS season. While at City, Lampard will be registered for the Premier League and Champions League up until January. According to the BBC, Manchester City will pay all of the midfielder’s wages during his loan period.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed the 36-year-old’s move on Saturday after their game against Greek champions Olympiakos.

“As you know, Frank has signed a contract with New York City and he will start working here [the United States] in January as the season starts in March,” Pellegrini announced after the match.

“From next Wednesday he will start working with our team and will play for us until then. At the moment he will work with the squad and be a member of the squad. He will fight for a position.

“He knows we have a very good team, we have a lot of players in his position. He is one player more. We have a lot of games particularly with the Champions League - so he’s very important for our team.”

Lampard spent 13 years with Chelsea and in that time became the club’s highest goalscorer with 211 goals. He won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two FA Community Shields, one Champions League and one Europa League title.

Lampard is also one of seven players - and the only midfielder - to score 150 or more goals in the Premier League. In addition, he is second to Ryan Giggs in the Premier League’s all-time assist table.

Manchester City will begin their title defense on August 17th away to Newcastle United but will play Arsenal in the season’s curtain raiser for the Community Shield.