Comeback is finally confirmed by Jordan

Michael Jordan made his much-anticipated comeback official yesterday, announcing that he will return to play in the NBA and sign a two-year contract with the Washington Wizards. "I am returning as a player to the game I love," he said in a news release.

"I am especially excited about the Washington Wizards, and I'm convinced we have the foundation on which to build a play-off-contention team. The opportunity to teach our young players and help them elevate their game to a higher level, and to thank the fans in Washington for their loyalty and support, strongly influenced my decision."

The five-time league MVP, who retired for a second time in 1999 after leading the Chicago Bulls to their sixth title, announced his comeback after clearing up a licensing issue with one of his sponsors – a disagreement that caused the official announcement to come a day later than expected.

"This is certainly an extremely important moment in the history of our franchise, however our excitement is muted by the world events that surround us," said the Wizards owner, Abe Pollin. "The greatest player in the history of the game is joining my team, and for that I am extremely honoured and pleased."

Jordan, who has been training for a comeback for around six months, says he will donate his entire salary for the upcoming season to relief agencies working with the victims of the terrorist attacks in America.