U.S. national team goalie Tim Howard returning to MLS

The Colorado Rapids announced U.S. national team goalie Tim Howard has signed a Designated Player contract from English Premier League side Everton and will join the team when the summer transfer window opens July 4.

Howard, 37, has played for Everton since 2006, moving over from English Premier League side Manchester United. He previously played in MLS from 1998-2003, winning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2001 for the MetroStars.

"I will remain an Evertonian for life," he said via Everton's Twitter feed. "This will always be my team; my club."

Howard has been a starring member of the U.S. national team since 2002, collecting the most caps of any goalkeeper in the nation's history (106). He has appeared in two World Cups, and was the goalie when the U.S. won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup over Mexico.

Colorado had the first option to sign Howard due to being atop the Allocation Ranking order, a pool of names which includes several US national team stars based abroad. He signed a deal for three-and-a-half years. Colorado now drops to the bottom of the Allocation Ranking order and Howard's acquisition brings the list down to 29 players.

Howard is the last acquisition for the Rapids, who have recently added USMNT veteran midfielder Jermaine Jones, Guatemalan international Marco Pappa and Basel star Shkelzen Gashi.