SAN JOSE, California, Nov 23 (AFP) - United States striker Landon Donovan confirmed here Tuesday that he will join Germany's 2002 Champions League finalists Bayer Leverkusen in January from Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes.
The 22-year-old signed with Leverkusen in 1999 but departed in 2001 to join the US league, becoming its star attraction and leading the Earthquakes to a championship.
In June, the Bundesliga club announced Donovan would return in January. But he had a difficult time in Germany during his first stint with the team as a teenager and was allowed to develop in the US league for the past four seasons.
"Being in San Jose has changed me from being a boy into being a man," Donovan said.
"I'm excited I'll be playing in a new environment. I think it will be positive for me."
The three-time US Player of the Year had an unhappy stay in his first stint with the German club but expects things to be different this time around.
"They've assured me it's not a prison I'm going back to," Donovan said. "Germany wasn't always the nicest place for me when I was there before.
"They've assured me if I don't like it and it doesn't work out they will do what they have to do to make me happy and I appreciate that. That's a big part of me deciding to return."
Honouring his commitment to the club was important for Donovan, who called the decision to leave behind his girlfriend and family 100 times harder than his original choice to sign with Leverkusen.
"They have always been loyal to me, fair to me, given me the chance to do what I wanted," Donovan said. "I feel it's only fair to go back, honour the contract I've signed, and try it out and see how it goes.
"It's not me having to go back to Germany. It's me wanting to go back to Germany."
Now Donovan can begin to reach his full potential as a player, he said.
"There's a natural competitiveness in the training there," Donovan said. "The leagues in Europe are still at a higher talent level. The day-in, day-out pressure to perform will make me better. When I'm challenged I perform better and I think I'll be challenged daily."
11/23/2004 19:52 GMT - AFP