The BBC has agreed a two-year contract worth about £800,000 with former England captain Wayne Rooney to become a regular pundit on its flagship football highlights programme, “Match of the Day.” The 39-year-old is expected to be unveiled later this month and will feature throughout the 2025-26 Premier League season. Rooney’s hiring is part of a wider revamp of the show following Gary Lineker’s departure in May after 26 years. Presenting duties will rotate between Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, while Rooney will join the existing analyst roster alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. The deal includes a role in the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico and carries an option for a further two-year extension. The appointment signals a shift in focus for Rooney, who retired from playing in 2021 and has since endured mixed results in management with Derby County, D.C. United, Birmingham City and, most recently, Plymouth Argyle, where he was dismissed last December. The lucrative broadcast agreement suggests he will prioritise media work over a return to the dug-out, as the BBC seeks to refresh its football coverage with a high-profile signing.