Frank Lampard to announce next move 'very soon' ahead of New York City exit

Frank Lampard claims he will make an announcement on the next phase of his illustrious career "very soon". The former Chelsea stalwart will become a free agent at the end of 2016 after confirmation from New York City FC that he is set to leave Yankee Stadium when his current contract expires in December.

"As my time at NYCFC comes to an end I would like to thank so many people for the kindness and support that they have shown me over the last two years," the veteran midfielder wrote on his personal Instagram account. "My teammates have been a pleasure to play alongside.

"The amazing fans have given me incredible support and backing. All the people that work behind the scenes at NYCFC have made it so easy for me to work and settle here. I have very much enjoyed my time, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great club and in such an incredible city.

"I leave with many great memories as I embark on the next stage of my career and I'll be making an announcement very soon."

After his 13-year association with Chelsea ended in the summer of 2014, Lampard signed an initial two-year deal with new Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion franchise New York City before returning to the Premier League for a rather controversial extended loan stint at parent club Manchester City. He scored 15 goals in 31 total MLS appearances, although his eventful American adventure ended on a sour note after Patrick Vieira's side were thrashed 7-0 on aggregate by Sebastian Giovinco and Toronto FC in their two-legged Eastern Conference finals playoff.

"Everybody talks about Frank's goal-scoring record from midfield but I can tell you after a year of working with him, he brings so much more to a team than just goals," Vieira said of Lampard's impending exit.

"What Frank has brought to the locker room is something just as important – his experience, his elite mentality and his mentorship for the younger members of our squad have helped us greatly this year. It is clear that Frank has embraced playing in this league and for this club. I am grateful for his service in my first year here and I wish him the very best in whatever he chooses to do next."

New York City sporting director Claudio Reyna further labelled Lampard as a "fantastic ambassador" and advised young players to look towards him for "inspiration as to how an elite, professional footballer should approach the game".

Unlike former England midfield colleague Steven Gerrard, who could be set to return to Liverpool after dropping another big hint that he will also be leaving the MLS in December after 18 months with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Lampard's future plans are a mystery. Having turned 38 in June, he could well opt to retire from playing and move into a coaching or punditry role if the thought of one more season does not appeal.