updated 4:05 p.m. ET May 21, 2004

MADRID - David Beckham will stay at Real Madrid, his decision coming amid speculation he might return to English soccer with free-spending Chelsea.

Beckham has three more years on his contract with the Spanish soccer power, and he said Thursday in a statement through his agent that he will honor the agreement.

“I’ve been here for one season and it feels like the job’s not done yet,” he said. “The support that I have received from the fans has been amazing, and I would like to see them repaid with success. Victoria shares my vision of our life here together.”

Victoria, his pop-star wife, said she finally will move to Madrid with their two sons, Brooklyn and Romeo. Since her husband’s move from Manchester United to Real Madrid last summer, she has spent most of the time in England where 5-year-old Brooklyn goes to school.

“The time is now right for the children to move to Madrid and we are all looking forward to it enormously,” she said.

“It is a fantastic city with wonderful people and David and I are looking forward to strengthening our links with both. We are all very excited.”

Spanish and English newspapers have suggested Beckham might return to England to join Chelsea and its billionaire president.

Beckham, who will lead England at next month’s European Championship in Portugal, showed flashes of brilliance this season. But he struggled at the end and Madrid failed to win a title.

Beckham’s marriage appeared in trouble when a woman who used to work as a personal assistant for his former agent said she had an affair with the soccer star. She went on TV in England and sold her story to British tabloids. Reports of other alleged affairs also surfaced.

The Beckhams said their marriage was sound.

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