Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo joins New York from Juventus

Italian international Andrea Pirlo is greeted by a leaping young soccer player while visiting a soccer camp after being introduced by Major League Soccer (MLS) club New York City FC as their newest player, at an event in New York, July 23, 2015. The 36-year-old former Juventus and Milan player will join New York City FC for the rest of 2015 season as their third Designated Player.  [Photo/Agencies]

NEW YORK - APStar midfielder Andrea Pirlo joined Major League Soccer's New York City FC from Juventus on Monday, a little more than a month after winning a fifth consecutive Italian league title.

The 36-year-old playmaker arrives as a free transfer. He is the team's third designated player, following David Villa and Frank Lampard. On July 21, Pirlo will join New York City, which is 5-8-5 and 15 points behind leader D.C. United.

"I have been wanting this experience for a long time and now that the opportunity materialized I wanted to take it," he said on the New York club's website. "This is a club on the rise and shares my same hunger to achieve important results in the league."

Pirlo said he had "several opportunities" to play outside Italy but "never had a doubt" in selecting New York. He said he has met with coach Jason Kreis, who gave him a "fantastic impression" of the club.

"He has well defined ideas in mind, and I am sure we will get on well and create a good relationship to train well and try to win together," Pirlo said.