Beckham nets $1m a week as California dream comes true for Posh

HE MAY have passed his peak on the football field, but David Beckham has proved he still has the golden touch afer securing a new life in glitzy California worth million a week.

The deal, one of the biggest in sporting history, will see the 31-year-old former England captain manage the decline of his playing career at the Los Angeles outfit, LA Galaxy. In exchange for £128 million over the next five years, the midfielder will raise the profile of football in the United States and provide the Hollywood paparazzi with a new target in the form of his wife, Victoria. Upping sticks to America's centre of style-obsession is a natural move for Beckham - who has been at least equal parts a celebrity and sportsman for many years - and will also satisfy Victoria's continuing enthusiasm for life in the limelight. It also quashes the somewhat optimistic rumours that the legend from Leytonstone might play out his last years for Celtic.

The Beckhams are both keen on the American lifestyle and Victoria was seen house-hunting in LA before Christmas. Phil Gould, an associate editor of OK magazine, said: "They will enjoy moving in LA's celebrity circles. Then there's the obvious appeal of the shopping and sunshine, and the fact that they think it will be a nice place to raise their children. "Their profile out there will rise quite dramatically, not least because of their celebrity friends. It is thought they will buy a house near Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes." The Cruise connection is not insignificant. At the "TomKat" wedding in Italy last year, Victoria also made a chum of Jennifer Lopez and her husband, so no doubt the three couples will be getting together in LA. Juliet Herd, features editor of Hello! magazine, said the couple were likely to be seen at this year's Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Stuart Whitwell, joint managing director of brand consultants Intangible Business, said Beckham recognised that as a player his star was on the wane. "He has seen that he is not the star any more, and it is probably difficult for a sportsman to accept," he said.

"But he has got other things that other sportsmen don't have. I think it is a wise decision. Why be marginalised in Europe, when you can be the main draw over there?"

Beckham still commanded huge brand loyalty in the Far East and his move would help to protect that, Mr Whitwell said. Gordon Smart, deputy showbiz editor of the Sun said: "The Beckhams like being in the papers and they're desperate to break America, although most American TV stations have barely acknowledged this move yet, so it will be interesting to see how well he is received there. "Publicist Simon Fuller will be taking huge strides to make them as huge in America as they are in Britain. And, of course, David is hoping that he will be the person to make football more popular in America through his soccer schools. Image-obsessed LA will be a great place for Victoria to pursue her career in fashion design and commentary, and to shop. There were rumours David would go to Celtic, but Sauchiehall Street doesn't quite compare to Sunset Boulevard."

HEADING FOR THE HILLS...
A FAMILY with a reported £128 million to spend will undoubtedly head for the hills: Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills or Pacific Palisades, also known as Amalfi Coast, are the best neighbourhoods - the latter boasts beautiful ocean views and the lifestyle is quiet and idyllic. Valet-parked in the drive will be a blingy Lincoln Navigator 4x4 and a Lexus 4x4 for Mrs B.

Hers will become a familiar face on Beverly Boulevard and Montana Avenue at the élite boutiques Tracey Ross and Catherine Malandrino, browsing for Chloé, Marc Jacobs and Jimmy Choo. LA is not a late-night city: nobody drinks, everybody drives and they all rise at 4am for a one-to-one yoga session. The Beckhams will dine early at the Ivy or Nobu, or meet their new best friends, the Cruises, for a family brunch in Santa Monica.