Steven Gerrard will not return to the LA Galaxy after his contract expires next month, the MLS club confirmed on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old, who has been playing in the United States for the past 18 months following his exit from boyhood club Liverpool, did not announce his retirement but said he would now "consider the next stage of my career."
With Gerrard's contract due to expire, speculation over Gerrard's next move has been rife since the Galaxy's playoff defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Nov. 6.
LA manager Bruce Arena said after the loss that he hoped Gerrard would stay in California for another season, while sources told ESPN FC that the former England captain hopes to prolong his playing career.
The former England captain, who hinted at the move on Sunday by writing "I will miss you LA" on Instagram, penned a longer farewell on the Galaxy's website in confirming his exit.
"When I left Liverpool, I came to Los Angeles with the goal of helping the Galaxy lift another MLS Cup," Gerrard wrote. "I am of course disappointed to have not achieved that objective, but I can look back at my time at the club with pride at what we accomplished, including two straight playoff appearances and countless memorable moments on the pitch.
"As someone who spent the whole of their career in Liverpool, it has been an incredible experience to come to Los Angeles and play for the LA Galaxy. I would like to thank Mr. Anschutz, Dan Beckerman, Chris Klein and Bruce Arena for this opportunity.
"I would also like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, all of the support staff and most importantly the fans for their fantastic support during my time at Galaxy; I am excited to see this league and this great club continue to grow.
"I am now looking forward to spending time with my family as I consider the next stage of my career."
Gerrard has been linked with a return to the United Kingdom, with Celtic reportedly interested in him, while a homecoming to Anfield in some capacity has also been reported.
He made 19 appearances for Galaxy this season, scoring three goals. He has shown flashes of his Liverpool greatness during one-and-a-half seasons stateside, but the midfielder also dealt with injuries throughout his stay.
BREAKING: Steven Gerrard to depart from #LAGalaxy: https://t.co/DKCk6YRLpz pic.twitter.com/J0qPFRtNn7
- LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) November 15, 2016
Gerrard was out for one month between games twice during the second half of this season, returning to play 45 minutes in the playoff game against Colorado.
"We were honored to have a player and person of Steven's caliber represent the LA Galaxy over the past two seasons," Arena said in a statement.
"His experience, class and leadership made him a valuable member of this team both on and off the field. I will always remember his last kick for the LA Galaxy as he smashed home his penalty against Tim Howard.
"We thank Steven for his time and contributions to this club and we wish him the best in whatever comes next. He is one of the most iconic players of all-time and he will always be a part of the LA Galaxy family."
Gerrard's departure from MLS comes one day after his former England teammate Frank Lampard announced he was leaving New York City FC.
The Galaxy haven't announced whether Irish striker Robbie Keane or American stalwart Landon Donovan will return to the club. Arena is expected to retool the Galaxy's roster in the offseason around young offensive talents Giovani dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes.