体坛英语新闻：Spain striker Villa confirms New York move

MADRID, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Spain international striker David Villa confirmed on Sunday that he will be joining New York City FC in the MLS next season.

The move means that Villa will leave Atletico Madrid after a single season in which he helped the club win the BBVA Primera Liga title and reach the final of the Champions League for only the second time in their history.

32-year-old Villa was filmed in Manchester's Bridgewater Hospital on Saturday (one of two days off the members of the 23-man Spain squad for the World Cup finals were given after Friday' s 2-0 win over Bolivia).

Villa was thought to be undergoing a medical ahead of a move to New York City FC, which is a franchise of English league champions, Manchester City.

Sunday saw Villa confirm his departure with a video posted on the Atletico Madrid website.

"It is an irresistible project for me and my family, it is very good. It is about football and I have to accept it," said Villa, who added, he would be: "a fan of Atletico all my life for what they have given me this year."

"It has been a great project for me both personally as well as sporting and now I face a new challenge which is what I have always looked to do in my career and my life," said Villa who joined Atletico last summer from FC Barcelona.

Villa' s departure means Atletico will have a lot of rebuilding to do as the eyes of Europe appear to be on their successful squad.

Full back Felipe Luis and striker Diego Costa, are rumored to be on their way to Chelsea along with midfielder Tiago Cardoso, while FC Barcelona are interested in central defender, Joao Miranda and midfielder, Koke.