Frank Lampard has said he will join up with New York City FC at the end of the current Premier League season in a statement that ruled out extending his stay at Manchester City.
The midfielder moved to clarify his status after prolonged confusion about which clubs owns him and NYCFC issued a statement on Friday, acknowledging that it unintentionally misled fans by wrongly announcing Lampard's signing last year when he never had a playing contract for the Major League Soccer expansion team.
Sources at the Premier League champions told ESPN FC that they have accepted that New York City's initial statement that Lampard had a two-year contract, beginning in August 2014, with them was a mistake, along with Manchester City's subsequent claim that he had signed for them on loan.
In fact, Lampard signed a short-term deal with the English club until Dec. 31, which was then extended on New Year's Eve to cover the rest of the European season.
The Premier League cleared Manchester City of any wrongdoing on Thursday but claimed he does not have a contract with New York City.
Yet, while Lampard vowed to join up with NYCFC, sources said Lampard has a "head of terms commitment," which will now take effect from the start of July.
Lampard said in a statement on Facebook: "I want to make it completely clear about my situation as I have read a lot of lies and nonsense over the last few days. When I was released from Chelsea last year at the end of my contract, I signed a commitment to play in NYCFC for two years starting January 1st 2015. I was then offered the chance to train and be part of the Man City squad in the interim to keep myself in the best shape going into New York.
"This period has now been extended by Man City and I will start playing for NYCFC at the end of the current Premier League season.
"There has always been constant dialogue between all parties to find the best solution for everyone. I can say I am very excited about arriving in New York and giving everything to the team to make us a success in MLS as soon as possible.
"Thanks for your ongoing support and I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2015!"
Both MLS commissioner Don Garber and New York City director of football Claudio Reyna have said they expect Lampard to link up with NYCFC in the summer.
The former England international has scored seven goals in 19 games for Manchester City.
After being released by Chelsea, NYCFC paraded Lampard in Manhattan in July after announcing he "signed a two-year contract which starts August 1st.''
The clubs' parent company told The Associated Press that the NYCFC announcement in July "was a genuine error which throws everything into confusion [for media and fans]. It wasn't a contract. It's an agreement with City Football Group with intention to play for NYCFC.''
Lampard's move to City was remarkable because only days earlier in July he said the MLS move was because he did not want to play for another Premier League team after 13 years at Chelsea.
NYCFC supporters' group, The Third Rail, said it was "outraged'' by Lampard's prolonged stay in England because July's misleading signing announcement was accompanied by a push to sell season tickets and the player's jerseys.