Everton's Wayne Rooney all set to complete DC United transfer

Rooney spoke of an exciting new challenge upon his return to Everton, but is now set to leave halfway through a two-year deal

Wayne Rooney is set to complete his move to DC United on Thursday.

The Everton forward is expected to move to Major League Soccer just a year on from returning to his boyhood club after a record-breaking spell at Manchester United. It is understood Rooney will end his second stint at the Toffees today.

DC United have held a long-standing interest in Rooney, who last summer made an emotional return to Everton after 13 medal-laden years at Old Trafford.

The frontman became all-time top scorer for United and England during his time away from Goodison Park, winning five Premier League titles and a Champions League among a glut of other trophies.

Rooney spoke of an exciting new challenge upon his return to Everton, but is now set to leave halfway through a two-year deal.

Newly-appointed manager Marco Silva and director of football Marcel Brands said earlier this month that they would not stand in his way if he wanted to head to DC United.

"Before I arrived it was something that had already started," Silva said at his unveiling earlier this month. "It is something we expect, in the next few days, we will talk with Wayne Rooney (about) because he is a club legend and we need to understand everything.

"The door is open every time for him. We will talk with him but it is Wayne's decision."

Brands added: "There is a possibility he could leave. He is talking with Washington, it is not a secret.

"Of course we will talk with him and, if this is a move he wants to make and is the next step in his career, then I can only hope he will return when he is finished there because I think he still is a legend in this club.

Rooney's time in the Premier League is over (Getty)

"I always hoped to do that at (former club) PSV and I hope to do that here, to use the legends at the club."

DC United are about to move into their new Audi Field home, which opens against New England Revolution on July 14.

Rooney will not be able to play for the MLS side until the secondary transfer window opens on July 10.