David Beckham was said to be ecstatic after securing his return to top-class club football with a loan move to AC Milan last night, but the former England captain has promised his employers at Los Angeles Galaxy that he will be back in time for the start of the new Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign in April.

There has been concern in the United States that Beckham's temporary move to Italy, which was conceived to help him to maintain his fitness for England during a lengthy off-season, could lead him to break his contract with MLS and the Galaxy. But the deal was agreed with Beckham's lawyers in Milan last night, with the 33-year-old having made clear his intention to honour his commitments in California, even if it means turning his back on the prospect of a Uefa Cup or Serie A winner's medal.

“David has made clear that he is 100 per cent committed to his contract with Galaxy,” a spokesman for Beckham said last night. “This agreement has been done in conjunction with MLS, LA Galaxy, AC Milan and David Beckham, with an understanding between all parties that it is an arrangement that can work for everyone.”

A joint statement between Galaxy and Milan said: “David Beckham remains under contract to LA Galaxy and will return to the club for training and the start of the 2009 MLS season. AC Milan and LA Galaxy have also agreed to a technical partnership that will provide great benefit to LA Galaxy. Terms of the agreement will remain confidential.”

Although he may feature on their winter training camp in Dubai, Beckham will join Milan officially on January 7, so, fitness and form notwithstanding, he would be eligible to make his Serie A debut away to AS Roma four days later. While the length of his stay has not been finalised, the plan is that he will rejoin the Galaxy for their pre-season training camp in March.

Bruce Arena, the Galaxy coach, had previously suggested that the move had no obvious benefits to his club or MLS, but his club have been placated by the sweetener of the technical partnership alluded to. It is unclear what form this will take, but Galaxy will hope to benefit from an exchange of ideas and, in theory, personnel.