LONDON -- Former United States goalkeeper Tim Howard is part of a consortium that has taken over a fifth-tier football club in London.

The purchase of the majority of shares in Dagenham and Redbridge comes as the Victoria Road Football investment group prepares to launch Memphis 901 in the second-tier United Soccer League next year.

"Dagenham & Redbridge FC 2017 Ltd are very pleased to announce that Victoria Road Football, LLC, an American entity, have completed the purchase of the majority of the shares in the football club," the club said in a statement.

"This deal sees Dagenham & Redbridge FC Ltd, which is the Full Members company limited by guarantee, retain their portion of Dagenham & Redbridge FC 2017 Ltd while Directors David Bennett and Stephen Thompson also retain their original holdings of the club.

Thrilled to be a part of the @Dag_RedFC ownership group! pic.twitter.com/VYjheMG2IB — Tim Howard (@TimHowardGK) September 14, 2018

It added: "The new consortium, Victoria Road Football, LLC is a company led by Peter B. Freund, Craig Unger and former Premier League goalkeeper, Tim Howard. The group has already had a successful launch of professional soccer in Memphis, TN with the United Soccer League's Memphis 901 FC, a division II club.

"Peter and Craig's many years of operational experience, both owning and operating professional sports franchises throughout North America, and Tim Howard, with his expansive career in English football playing in the Premier League for 13 years with Everton and Manchester United, will seamlessly compliment the Dagenham & Redbridge management already in place.

The 39-year-old Howard is playing for the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer after spells at English clubs Manchester United and Everton.

Dagenham and Redbridge plays in a 6,000-capacity stadium in the east of London.