Kick Off: Landon Donovan's retirement plans, DeAndre Yedlin rumors, MLS transfer deadline day

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: Landon Donovan's retirement plans, DeAndre Yedlin rumors, MLS transfer deadline day Here are the top 15 stories we're following today: 1. LANDON'S RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Landon Donovan, who most consider the greatest American soccer player of all-time, announced on Thursday that he will retire at the end of the MLS season. "My gut just told me it was right and it was the right time," he said. The countdown of his final 15 regular-season MLS matches begins on Friday with a nationally televised match against his former club, the San Jose Earthquakes (10:30 pm ET, NBCSN).  2. #ThanksLD Donovan's decision made global headlines, from Spain to Brazil, illustrating just how popular and  he has been to the growth of the sport in the United States. As the news filtered through, the tributes flowed in. The likes of Tim Howard, Sunil Gulati, Claudio Reyna, Dax McCarty, and Maurice Edu, among others, expressed their gratitude. And Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath won the day with his wonderfully self-deprecating tweet.  3. ARENA BROUGHT TO TEARS No coach has had as big an impact on Donovan as Bruce Arena, and vice versa. The LA Galaxy boss could barely hold back the emotion as he described what Donovan meant to him.  4. ALL HE'S DONE IS... Over his 15-year career, Donovan has set records for goals, playoff goals, MLS All-Star appearances, and MLS Cups (tied). Here are the top 10 moments of his MLS career (so far), according to the editors at MLSsoccer.com. It's all so impressive, the Galaxy might consider erecting an LD statue some day.  5.  DEADLINE DAY ROUND-UP It's always one of the most hectic days on the calendar: the last day of the MLS transfer window. Amid the All-Star hoopla and the Landon news, you may have missed a few of the comings and goings. Andrew Weibe gets you caught up with a full round-up and ranking of all the moves  that happened. 6. SPURS CLOSING IN ON YEDLIN? Seattle Sounders star DeAndre Yedlin has been in the transfer news ever since the World Cup. According to Goal.com's Ives Galarcep, he's on the verge of joining Barclay's Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. No word from the Sounders, but the report claims he will finish out the 2014 MLS season before making the move.  7. FC DALLAS SIGN DEFENDER CABRERA In need of defensive reinforcements, FC Dallas added Paraguayan defender Walter Cabrera on Thursday, signing the 24-year-old on loan from Paraguayan club General Diaz. Head coach Oscar Pareja believes that Cabrera "fits very well into our style of play." Dallas  8. RSL TARGET SAYS FAREWELL TO UNION ESPANOLA There's nothing official from either club yet, but Argentine striker Sebastian Jaime sure seems set on a move from Chilean club Union Espanola to Real Salt Lake. The Chilean league itself all but confirmed a deal earlier in the week, and now the player himself has written a farewell letter to Union's fans. 9. DC ACQUIRES ESTRADA FROM SOUNDERS The injury problems in attack continue to pile up for D.C. United - with Michael Seaton and Conor Doyle the latest to be ruled out -- but the capitol side picked up another option by trading for David Estrada from the Seattle Sounders. Estrada could feature when United travel to Real Salt Lake on Saturday (10 pm TE, MLS LIVE). 10. KLJESTAN OFF BEFORE IT WAS ON When the LA Galaxy called a press conference for Thursday, many assumed it was to announce the signing of Anderlecht midfielder Sacha Kljestan was on the move to SoCal. But Kljestan himself put to bed those rumors. (By the way, check out the Superman background on his twitter page.)  11. JJ STILL NOT OFF THE TABLE FOR CHICAGO It was a quiet transfer window for the Chicago Fire, but head coach Frank Yallop insists that the club is still eyeing Jermaine Jones. The USMNT midfielder remains at Besiktas for the time being, while Yallop is turning his attention to explore other options. The manager has come under fire on social media over a lack of squad moves. "I can see where they're coming from," he said. "I just want to make sure we make the right moves." 12. COULD SAO PAULO SUCCESS DELAY KAKA'S ARRIVAL? There's just a matter of months until Orlando City debut in MLS. But their main headliner, Kaka, may not appear for a little while longer, if reports from Brazil this morning are to be believed. Kaka, who is on loan at Brazilian club Sao Paulo until January, is reportedly open to extending the loan if SPFC qualify for the Copa Libertadores. No word from Orlando City yet. 13. WHITECAPS ADD COSTA RICAN CENTER BACK With Jay DeMerit's retirement, the Caps needed to bolster their center back position. On Friday morning, they did just that, adding 6'5" Costa Rican Kendall Watson, most recently with Saprissa. "Kendall is a big, physical, aggressive centre back who has a nose for the net," said head coach Carl Robinson. Check out some highlights of his play. 14. NELSEN FINED FOR REFEREE CRITICISM Referee Ted Unkel came under fire from Toronto FC coach Ryan Nelsen after last week's 2-1 home defeat to Sporting Kansas City. And now Nelsen has been fined by the league for his outburst. But Michael Bradley appears to have escaped. 15. COULD RIHANNA BE INTERESTED IN CHIVAS USA? Yes, you read that correctly. Pop star Rihanna, who showed her soccer fandom during the World Cup, is reportedly now looking to put her money where her social-media mouth is. A friend of Didier Drogba, she is reportedly "really serious" about becoming involved in a club in the UK or she "hinted she may do something with an LA team." Who wouldn't want to hear "We Found Love" as warm-up music? MLSSOCCER.COM MUST READS ET Radio: Kyle Beckerman talks about LD and his "nasty" feet