Frank Lampard coming to New York in July, but the furore isn't done yet

I am as sick of the Frank Lampard tug-of-war as everyone else. The rumors and deceit - including at least one outright lie, by my count - have given a black eye to Major League Soccer, Manchester City, New York City FC and the player himself.

Now, after weeks of confusion, Lampard has finally spoken up. In a statement on his Facebook page posted Friday morning, Lampard responded to what he called "a lot of lies and nonsense" about his situation.

But in reality, the veteran English midfielder confirmed what has been reported - and decried - by bservers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean: he did not actually sign a contract last summer to join New York City FC. Instead, Lampard used the word "commitment."

I want to make it completely clear about my situation as I have read a lot of lies and nonsense over the last few days.

When released from Chelsea last year at the end of my contract I signed a commitment to play in NYCFC for two years starting January 1st 2015. I was then offered the chance to train and be part of the Man City squad in the interim to keep myself in the best shape going into New York.

This period has since been extended by Man City and I now will start playing for NYCFC at the end of this current Premier League season. There has always been a constant dialogue between all parties in this time to find the best solution for everyone.

I can say that I am very excited about arriving in New York and giving everything to the team to make us a success in the MLS as soon as possible. Thanks everyone for your ongoing support and I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2015!

Lampard's remarks came a day after his agent, Steve Kutner, made his own effort to clarify the situation. And to his credit, he may have actually succeded.

On Thursday, Kutner confirmed to England's TalkSport radio network that Lampard is officially coming to New York in the summer.

"Steve assures me that Frank has signed a contract with New York City that will start on July 1," talkSport host Jason Cundy said on air. "He also assures me that Frank will not be at Manchester City next season. He will go to America on July 1 and will then be a player for New York City."

If that holds true, it's likely that Lampard's first game with New York will be a nationally-televised matchup with Michael Bradley's Toronto FC on July 12 at Yankee Stadium.

Had Kutner not spoken, Lampard's remarks on their own might not have settled the furore around him.

You don't have to be a lawyer to figure out that Lampard's used of the word "commitment" officially contradicts New York's original declaration on July 24, 2014 that Lampard "signed a two-year contract which starts August 1st."

Within that statment, the club issued a line for transaction wires stating: "New York City FC signs Frank Lampard to a Designated Player contract."

Along with the statement, there was a press conference in Brooklyn at which, to use the team's own language, Lampard's "signing was officially announced."

The uncertainty over the midfielder's status emerged after his stay at Manchester City, which was initially described as a loan from the New York partner club, was extend until the end of the season.

But in reality, it was not a loan. Lampard signed a contract with the City Football Group, which owns both teams, and was sent to Manchester on a short-term contract. That deal was originally set to expire at the end of December, but it was extended by Manchester after Lampard's success on the field helped the team win key games in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

It took four months from the time of New York's original announcement for the overlords in Manchester - or maybe Abu Dhabi, where City Football Group's owners are based - to finally confess.

On Friday morning, City Football Group told the Associated Press' Rob Harris that New York's July announcement "was a genuine error which throws everything into confusion. It wasn't a contract. It's an agreement with City Football Group with intention to play for NYCFC."

The Guardian's Jamie Jackson received this official statement from Manchester City:

The statement on the NYCFC website in July saying Lampard's two-year contract took effect from Aug 1, 2014 was a mistake. [The] initial statement on City's website that it was a loan was also an error.

The Times of London's James Ducker reported:

The Premier League statement mentioned above was issued Thursday. It declared that "Frank Lampard is registered with Manchester City FC until the end of the 2014-15 season," and "The Premier League has sought and received assurances from Manchester City that there is no agreement in place between the club or City Football Group with New York City FC relating to the player."

Again, note the use of the word "commitment." Lampard can't officially sign a contract in New York until he is officially out of contract in Manchester. Once that happens, he's no longer the Premier League's business to worry about.

For the moment, though, Lampard is their business. And as the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman reported Friday, it looks like the Premier League's rule-enforcers have summoned Manchester City to the principal's office:

... the Premier League have been in touch with City to complain about the suggestion from them that Lampard's contract only ran until December 31.

The League insist that's not the case and have pointed out that it would have been in direct contravention of Premier League rule T11 which insist a contract must be for a minimum of 12 months.

So what we'll end up with is Lampard arriving in MLS in July, just as Steven Gerrard will do with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Could it have been that way from the start? Maybe, but at the time this all started, it certainly was improbable. As MLS commissioner Don Garber told the Associated Press on Monday, "when he initially joined Manchester City, none of us envisioned Frank would play such a prominent role in the club's season."

The original plan, Garber said, was for Lampard "to train with [Manchester City] and possibly play in some matches that would help him prepare for the start of the New York City FC season."

Hopefully, all parties involved are now at a point where the furore can finally calm down. But with Garber and the entire MLS establishment set to convene at the MLS SuperDraft next week - in Philadelphia, as it happens - it's a safe bet that we haven't heard the last word on the matter.

Even with Lampard's official future apparently settled, it will take some serious diplomacy by him and City Football Group to smooth over New York fans' rightful outrage over being treated as sheep.

Rememer when New York City FC made Lampard the first face of its marketing efforts, using his star power to sell over 11,000 season tickets? Remember when he was featured on a billboard next to Penn Station, and when fans were encouraged to buy t-shirts with his name and number on the back?

Those shirts are still available in the team's online store - for less than half the original price.