NEW YORK — David Beckham's playing contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy is worth about $27.5 million in base salary over five seasons, according to a person familiar with Major League Soccer agreements.

It's a fraction of the $250 million income figure floated for the English star when he agreed to the deal last month.

Beckham's average base salary of about $5.5 million was disclosed Friday by a person who had been briefed on the deal and who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details had not been announced.

Simon Oliveira, Beckham's spokesman, would not confirm the figure but didn't dispute it.

"That is only one element to his salary and package, which had to be disclosed in accordance with MLS guidelines," Oliveira said.

AEG, the company that runs the Galaxy, trumpeted a far higher figure when Beckham's agreement was announced last month.

"The deal to bring Beckham to America is thought to be the biggest in sporting history, with industry experts estimating the worth to the player in excess of $250 million," AEG's news release said.

Beckham's contract, according to several people familiar with the details, is a complex and probably unique arrangement that gives the 31-year-old midfielder a percentage of club sponsorship, merchandising and uniform sales contracts. Promotional arrangements also are included.

Several weeks after the announcement, Los Angeles said it had sold more than 5,000 additional season tickets. The team plans to redesign its uniform and is examining sponsorship offers for advertising on the jerseys.