Ljungberg joins Seattle Sounders in MLS

(CNN) -- Freddie Ljungberg has become the latest big name player to head to the United States to play in Major League Soccer, signing for Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.

The former Swedish captain forged his reputation with Arsenal in the Premier League and crossed London to play for West Ham.

After terminating his contact with the Hammers in the summer, the 31-year-old midfielder has been weighing up a number of offers before opting to join the likes of David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy) in the MLS.

He told a news confernce at Seattle's stadium, Qwest Field that he wanted to play in America while still at his best.

"For me personally, I'm coming here because I want to play football and I see this as a great experience and I want to make it a better league and develop it," he told the Associated Press.

"I felt if I was going to do this as a sincere thing, I should go now. I shouldn't go in three years when I'm past my peak."

Ljungberg, who has played in two World Cups, has signed a two-year deal at Seattle, reported to be worth $5 million per year.

The Sounders are owned by Joe Roth and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, as well as a number of minority owners including comedian Drew Carey.

More than 17,000 season tickets have been sold for the 2009 season, which already puts the Sounders second in the MLS when they join as the 15th team.

Ljungberg joins former Tottenham and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Kasey Keller -- a Seattle native -- as well as midfielder Sanna Nyassi and striker Sebastien Le Toux as the only players on the club's squad ahead of the draft on November 26.

Copyright 2008 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.