Report: Jonathan Legear signs new three-year contract with Standard Liege

The rumor that Belgian midfielder Jonathan Legear might be ready to quit Standard Liege and have a crack at MLS was surprising and short-lived: Legear himself denied it almost as soon as it was published.

Then there was further denial. And now there is news out of Belgium that the player has signed a new contract with his current club.

It's over. The idea he might move to MLS, let alone the New York Red Bulls (Legear was once a teammate of Sacha Kljestan), seemed a little far-fetched given the swift and clear rebuttal issued by both the player and other sources. Now it would appear definitively dead.

Legear joined Standard to re-build a career that had derailed after a succession of underwhelming and unsuccessful stints at clubs around Europe. The renewed contract would appear to signal not just renewed commitment to the team that gave him a second chance, but also the end of the low-salary deal that was allegedly the source of his rumored desire for yet another new team. He is reported to be signed up with Standard until 2018.