Report: NYCFC To Pay English Star Frank Lampard $6 Million Per Season

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Frank Lampard will soon join an exclusive club.

The 36-year-old Manchester City FC midfielder is expected to join New York City FC in July, and when he does he will become one of just a handful of MLS players to earn at least $6 million annually, according to a recent report on SI.com.

Because of his late arrival, the first year of Lampard's contract, which will run through 2016, will be prorated. Next season he will receive the full $6 million, plus a marketing bonus, SI.com reported.

Other players currently in the league that make at least $6 million include NYCFC striker David Villa, Orlando City midfielder Kaká ($6.66 million) and Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley ($6 million), according to figures released by the MLS Players Union.

Three other players are expected to be paid yearly salaries comparable to Lampard and Villa when they arrive in MLS later this year. Midfielder Sebastian Giovinco will reportedly get $7 million per from Toronto FC for one year, while American striker Jozy Altidore and English midfielder Steven Gerrard are expected to each get $6 million annually from Toronto FC and LA Galaxy, respectively, SI.com reported.

After starring with Chelsea for more than a decade, Lampard joined Manchester City prior to the Barclays Premier League season. He is one of the greatest goal scorers of his generation, notching 152 in Premier League play since 2001 and another 29 internationally for England dating to 1999.

The sooner Lampard joins NYCFC the better as the expansion club is winless in eight games (0-6-2), scoring a total of just four goals. NYCFC will try to begin to turn things around when it meets the Chicago Fire on Friday at Yankee Stadium.