Major League Soccer has long had a reputation as a place where European stars come to finish their careers, enjoying the relative anonymity of living in the United States while picking up a few final paychecks against weaker competition.

But M.L.S. seems to be shifting from ultimate destination to penultimate destination, as some of the former greats are playing well enough to earn one more stop, although not with teams as prestigious as the ones they once played on in Europe.

The latest to be moving on is striker Wayne Rooney, 33, who has been a smashing success at D.C. United. He will return to England as a player-coach at Derby County after the conclusion of the M.L.S. season, it was announced Tuesday. His next team plays in the English second tier, and narrowly missed promotion to the Premier League last season, losing in the playoff final.

Rooney spent 16 years as a striker in the Premier League, notably with Manchester United, and starred for the English national team as well.