The Daily Express said the 31-year-old former England [ Images ] captain had signed "the most mind-boggling contract in global sport".

The Sun quoted Jonathan Woodgate, a former England and Real Madrid [ Images ] team mate of Beckham's, as forecasting the midfielder's move would open up the floodgates for other top players.

The paper said Beckham aimed to tempt former Real team-mates Zinedine Zidane [ Images ], Ronaldo [ Images ] and Luis Figo to join him in the U.S.

It devoted eight pages to the player's move, including the front which calculated that his estimated 128 million pounds five-year deal would work out at 50 pounds a minute.

The Daily Telegragh said the deal would help put Beckham's earning power on a par with the biggest names in American sport.

The Star forecast the former Manchester United [ Images ] man would become bigger than Pele who also played in the U.S. after coming out of retirement in 1975.

The Guardian said Beckham would breathe new life into a league that desperately needs a fillip.