Americans Abroad 2022-23

Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

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The season is underway in Europe so it's time for an overdue refresh of this thread.

Keeping track of American players is getting harder than ever. Not only does MLS now have 28 clubs, but there has been an increased flow of sales to European clubs which means the American soccer player diaspora across the better leagues of Europe is about as interesting as it has ever been — and certainly an improvement over the darker years of relatively recent vintage.

First, a summary of some transfer activity this summer.

Goalkeepers

Everyone's on the move! Matt Turner's transfer to Arsenal went through, where he's expected to be the #2. Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath are on loan in the Championship with Middlesbrough and Luton Town respectively.

The latest big prospect name Gaga Slonina '04 has been sold to Chelsea for eight figures, but he'll stay on loan with Chicago for now.

Fullbacks

Shaq Moore left the Canary Islands for Nashville after a few years in the Spanish second tier at Tenerife. Bryan Reynolds' misbegotten move to Roma means he's on loan in Belgium at Westerlo where he'll try to rejuvenate the momentum he had just 18 months ago.

Center Backs

Chris Richards got a $13m move to Crystal Palace from Bayern, where he didn't really have a future.

John Brooks remains a free agent looking for his next club. It's curious he's still unattached.

A few guys have officially left English Loan Armies: Cameron Carter-Vickers joined Celtic permanently after a successful loan last season. Matt Miazga finally left Chelsea's books by signing with FC Cincinnati.

Auston Trusty made a strange move to Arsenal, perhaps driven for some reason by the common ownership of Arsenal and Colorado Rapids. At any rate, he's on loan in the Championship at Birmingham City.

Kobi Henry '04 was the subject of a USL-record $700,000 transfer from Orange County SC to Reims, where he'll begin with the reserve team.

Central Midfielders

After an unfortunate 2021-22 season, Tyler Adams will begin his third stint with Jesse Marsch at Leeds United. He and the EPL were made for each other.

Luca de la Torre moved to Celta Vigo from relegated Heracles Almelo.

Taylor Booth '01 moved on a free from Bayern to FC Utrecht. I'm interested to see what a year or two of the Eredivisie will do for him. He's an interesting prospect, but not one who was going to break through at Bayern.

Attacking Midfielders / Wingers

The highlight transfer at this position is Brenden Aaronson's $36m(!) move from RB Salzburg to Leeds.

Some other quick ones: Malik Tillman is on loan at Rangers from Bayern. Sebastian Saucedo moved from Pumas UNAM to Toluca in Liga MX. A bunch of young guys were on the move: Jack de Vries moved from Philadelphia to Venezia permanently, Griffin Yow was sold from DC United to Westerlo (Belgium), dual nat Vaughn Covil moved from Forest Green Rovers to Hull and made his Champo debut in the season opener.

Remember Kenny Saief? His contract at Anderlecht ran out and he's now in Azerbaijan.

Forward

The biggest move here is Jordan Pefok's transfer from Young Boys to Union Berlin.

Jozy Altidore is on loan in Mexico. Andrija Novakovich was sold across Serie B from Frosninone to Venezia. Haji Wright was purchased by Antalyaspor, where he was on loan last year. Niko Gioacchini left France for Orlando City.

Folarin Balogun, the triple nat who doesn't seem very interested in the US, is on loan at Reims.



Americans Abroad 2022-23: The Roster

England
Premier League
GK Matt Turner, 1994, Arsenal
CB Tim Ream, 1987, Fulham
CB Chris Richards, 2000, Crystal Palace
LB Antonee Robinson, 1997, Fulham
CM Tyler Adams, 1999, Leeds United
AM Brenden Aaronson, 2000, Leeds United
AM Christian Pulisic, 1998, Chelsea

Championship
GK Ethan Horvath, 1995, Luton Town (on loan from Nottingham Forest)
GK Zack Steffen, 1995, Middlesbrough (on loan from Manchester City)
CB Jonathan Tomkinson, 2002, Norwich City
CB Auston Trusty, 1998, Birmingham City (on loan from Arsenal)
CM Duane Holmes, 1994, Huddersfield Town
AM Vaughn Covil, 2003, Hull City
AM Lynden Gooch, 1995, Sunderland
FW Daryl Dike, 2000, West Bromwich Albion
FW Josh Sargent, 2000, Norwich City
FW Sebastian Soto, 2000, Norwich City

League Two
LB Jaheim Headley, 2001, Harrogate Town (on loan from Huddersfield Town)
FW Charlie Kelman, 2001, Leyton Orient (on loan from QPR)

Spain
La Liga
RB Sergino Dest, 2000, Barcelona
CM Luca de la Torre, 1998, Celta Vigo
CM Yunus Musah, 2002, Valencia
FW Matthew Hoppe, 2001, Mallorca

La Liga 2
AM Armando Shashoua, 2000, Ibiza

Germany
Bundesliga
RB Timothy Chandler, 1990, Eintracht Frankfurt
RB Joe Scally, 2002, Borussia Mönchengladbach
CB Justin Che, 2003, Hoffenheim (on loan from FC Dallas)
AM Kevin Paredes, 2003, Wolfsburg
AM Gio Reyna, 2002, Borussia Dortmund
FW Jordan Pefok, 1996, Union Berlin
FW Ricardo Pepi, 2003, Augsburg

2.Bundesliga
CB Nico Carrera, 2002, Holstein Kiel
CB Ryan Malone, 1992, Hansa Rostock
CB Lennard Maloney, 1999, Heidenheim
LB George Bello, 2002, Arminia Bielefeld
CM Julian Green, 1995, Greuther Fürth

3. Liga
CM Mael Corboz, 1994, Verl
AM Marcel Costly, 1995, Ingolstadt
AM Jann George, 1992, Erzgebirge Aue
AM Jalen Hawkins, 2001, Ingolstadt
AM Kevin Lankford, 1998, Viktoria Köln
AM Isaiah Young, 1998, Rot-Weiß Essen
FW Johan Gomez, 2001, Zwickau
FW Marc Heider, 1986, Osnabrück

Italy
Serie A
CM Weston McKennie, 1998, Juventus

Serie B
CM Gianluca Busio, 2002, Venezia
CM Tanner Tessmann, 2001, Venezia
AM Jack de Vries, 2002, Venezia
AM Anthony Fontana, 1999, Ascoli
FW Andrija Novakovich, 1996, Venezia

France
Ligue 1
CB Erik Palmer-Brown, 1997, Troyes
AM Konrad de la Fuente, 2001, Marseille
AM Tim Weah, 2000, Lille

Ligue 2
CM Amir Richardson, 2002, Le Havre
FW Patrick Koffi, 2001, Paris FC

Netherlands
Eredivisie
CM Cole Bassett, 2001, Feyenoord (on loan from Colorado Rapids)
CM Taylor Booth, 2001, Utrecht
AM Richy Ledezma, 2000, PSV Eindhoven

Belgium
First Division A
RB Mauricio Cuevas, 2003, Club Brugge
RB Bryan Reynolds, 2001, Westerlo (on loan from Roma)
CB Mark McKenzie, 1999, Genk
LB Sam Vines, 1999, Royal Antwerp
CM Owen Otasowie, 2001, Club Brugge
AM Jorge Hernandez, 2000, Mechelen
AM Griffin Yow, 2002, Westerlo

First Division B
AM Tyler Wolff, 2003, Beveren (on loan from Atlanta United)

Portugal
Primeira
RB Reggie Cannon, 1998, Boavista
CM Alejandro Alvarado, 2003, Vizela
CM Alex Mendez, 2000, Vizela

Mexico
Liga MX
CB Ventura Alvarado, 1992, Juarez
CM Fernando Arce, Jr., 1996, Juarez
AM Sebastian Saucedo, 1997, Toluca
FW Jozy Altidore, 1989, Puebla (on loan from New England Revolution)

Argentina
Primera
AM Joel Sonora, 1996, Velez Sarsfield
AM Alan Sonora, 1998, Independiente

Turkey
Super Lig
AM Tyler Boyd, 1994, Besiktas
AM Gboly Ariyibi, 1995, Ankaragücü
FW Haji Wright, 1998, Antalyaspor

Greece
Super League
CM Caleb Stanko, 1993, Asteras Tripolis

Denmark
Super League
CM Christian Cappis, 1999, Brøndby
AM Emmanuel Sabbi, 1997, OB Odense

1. Division
AM Jose Gallegos, 2001, SønderjyskE
AM Jannick Liburg, 2001, SønderjyskE
FW Patrick Bohui, 2003, Vejle

Scotland
Premiership
CB Cameron Carter-Vickers, 1997, Celtic
CM Ian Harkes, 1995, Dundee United
CM Dante Polvara, 2000, Aberdeen
CM James Sands, 2000, Rangers (on loan from NYCFC)
AM E.J. Johnson, 2003, Hibernian
AM Malik Tillman, 2002, Rangers (on loan from Bayern Munich)
FW Christian Ramirez, 1991, Aberdeen
FW Joe Efford, 1996, Motherwell

Championship
GK Brian Schwake, 2001, Greenock Morton (on loan from Livingston)

Norway
Eliteserien
GK Mike Lansing, 1994, Aalesund
CB Sam Rogers, 1999, Rosenborg
LB Kobe Hernandez-Foster, 2002, Ham-Kam

Sweden
Allsvenskan
GK Jeff Gal, 1993, Degerfors
CB Forrest Lasso, 1993, GIF Sundsvall
CM Joe Corona, 1990, GIF Sundsvall
AM Joe Gyau, 1992, Degerfors
AM Romain Gall, 1995, Malmö

Hungary
NB I
RB Henry Wingo, 1995, Ferencváros
FW Eduvie Ikoba, 1997, Zalaegerszegi TE

Croatia
1. HNL
CM Rokas Pukstas, 1994, Hajduk Split

Israel
Premier League
GK Josh Cohen, 1992, Maccabi Haifa

Cyprus
First Division
CM Mix Diskerud, 1990, Omonia
 
rguilmar

rguilmar

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Thanks as always for this list! It’s amazing how many people I’ve forgotten about. Mix Diskerud?!?!


Pesky Pole said:
Jedi played well against Liverpool and someone needs to remind me why Tim Ream isn't at least a backup CB for the USMNT (especially with all the injuries).
Click to expand...
Moving this over here. The answer I would guess is “the same reason as John Brooks”- poor fit for Gregg’s system and open to getting roasted when left in space.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

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I might put together a list of academy players and prospects later, but right now it's too hard to figure out which guys are still with which clubs, so it's better left for late August or early September. It's also notable that there just aren't as many interesting American prospects in Euro academies in the same way that it was a few years ago when McKennie, Pulisic, Weah, et al were coming through. So many more guys are starting their careers in MLS, which is working out decently because (most) MLS clubs are better at bringing youth through the ranks and there's suddenly a solid market for young players in the league.

It's not an ironclad rule by any means, but the percentage of blue-chip prospects starting their careers in MLS has skyrocketed in the last 3-4 years.
 
InstaFace

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Wow, we get second divisions in Belgium and even Denmark, but the Eerste Divisie has nobody? I vaguely remember an old hand re-emerging there somewhere.

Konrad to Valladolid seems to be on-hold due to other clubs becoming interested, including... Bayern?! Guy has definitely not shown anything that would make me think he's immediate first-team material anywhere north of a low Ligue 1 team, so I hope he picks a team where he can most easily get a starting spot and show his stuff.
 
rguilmar

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InstaFace said:
Wow, we get second divisions in Belgium and even Denmark, but the Eerste Divisie has nobody? I vaguely remember an old hand re-emerging there somewhere.

Konrad to Valladolid seems to be on-hold due to other clubs becoming interested, including... Bayern?! Guy has definitely not shown anything that would make me think he's immediate first-team material anywhere north of a low Ligue 1 team, so I hope he picks a team where he can most easily get a starting spot and show his stuff.
Click to expand...
OM look to be signing Alexis Sánchez so it makes sense for Konrad to find minutes elsewhere. Rumors are all over the place with a couple of the Istanbul giants also interested and making a degree of sense.

Marseille have an enormous following in France, finished second last season, and seem poised to make life interesting for PSG. Looks like they are making a run at it, and there isn’t room for a player who has shown a lack of professionalism. Obviously PSG are favorites, but it would’ve been great if Konrad could have even gotten minutes off the bench and the occasional start a la Tim Weah for Lille in 2020/21.
 
Titans Bastard

Titans Bastard

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Cole Bassett was loaned to Feyenoord last winter for 1.5 seasons. However, he didn't quite make it into the immediate first team plans out of preseason, and they wanted to loan him out. Feyenoord weren't allowed to sub-loan him, so Colorado and Feyenoord agreed to terminate his loan. The Rapids then loaned him to Fortuna Sittard and Feyenoord retains the right of first refusal to buy him outright at the end of the season.

View: https://twitter.com/FortunaSittard/status/1558422929142054912
 
rguilmar

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Dual national Luca Koleosho makes his season debut off the bench for Espanyol. He was born in Connecticut but has played youth tournaments for Canada and the US. He has spent a lot of time in Spain joining the Reus youth teams when he was like 12 (Reus is another Catalan team where I think Shaq Moore played when they ran into financial difficulties, stopped paying their players, and pretty much forfeited half the season). Anyways, with the US qualifying for the U-20 World Cup and the Olympics, and Canada not, might be time to loop him in. In the same game, LDLT dressed but did not play for Celta in their 2-2 draw.

Malik Tillman scored the first goal for Rangers.
 
Jimy Hendrix

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Appetizing 1 - 2 and finish from Sargent in a very good 20min to start the second half.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/USMNT/status/1560722326609694722


Of all the strikers we're hoping have a good 3 months, he's interesting to me because he and Pepi are the two other than Ferreira who at their best are Plan A "they play the 9 like Berhalter wants his 9 to play" guys, while Pefok and Vazquez and Wright are more Plan B "try a different approach" type guys. At this point we just need any of those guys to seem worth bringing to Qatar, but at my greediest I want a guy from each of those groups in good form.

Ha, Sargent gets a second while I blather on about my theories, sprung a counter by antagonizing two defenders on a skied clearance and then finished it off.
 
Kliq

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He's off to a really exciting start this season at Norwich. I agree we just need SOMEBODY playing well in Europe to feel good about that position. I really like Pefok and I'm somewhat annoyed that Berhalter isn't that high on him.
 
HowBoutDemSox

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Xavi apparently pushing for Dest to go:
Xavi Hernandez said Sergino Dest "knows what the situation is" as Barcelona put pressure on the United States defender to leave the club before the transfer window closes.

Barca need to raise funds and reduce their wage bill to be able to register €55 million summer signing Jules Kounde, and Dest is one of the players they have decided they can afford to lose.
Click to expand...
https://www.espn.com/soccer/barcelona-espbarcelona/story/4725368/barcelonas-xavi-pushing-for-sergino-dests-departure-he-knows-what-the-situation-is
 
Jimy Hendrix

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Watching parts of the Augsburg game since Pepi got in, and they really play stinky long ball football.
 
67YAZ

67YAZ

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It’s been a big summer for Chicago guys. Though I really wish Heitz and Wicky had found a way to unlock Djordje’s talents here.

The Fire academy appears to be growing and getting better. There’s a few prospects worth watching, namely the 5 guys called into various youth national teams this summer. It’s a process, but things are moving.
 
Jimy Hendrix

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Dest needs to be given a copy of He's Just Not That Into You or something, for all the sturm und drang about Pulisic being a sub Dest is the way more alarming situation USMNT-wise and it might turn a potential strength into a weakness.
 
Dummy Hoy

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Alex Mighten, 20 y.o. Forward born in Hartford but playing England youth internationals just signed a season long loan at Wednesday from Forest
 
Arroyo Con Frijoles

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I guess I'm not sure if Dest needs to do much of anything before the World Cup. He's not exactly fighting for a spot for the U.S., so if he's content to hang out, collect a paycheck, and tell the club to fuck off, bully for him. Sucks he'll be rusty, but he'll also be healthy! Then move in the winter after bombing up the wings for a team that made the semifinals in Qatar.

(Also as I recall the strange message of "He's Just Not That Into You" is that he is, in fact, that into you)
 
rguilmar

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A loan move to another La Liga team might work for everyone. Teams like Betis and Villarreal could use him, Villarreal to replace Foyth who is a target of… Barcelona. He also got hurt last weekend. Betis are off to a good start but have gotten very little from the right side of the attack at all except for when Fekir drifts out there. Both teams have legit shots at a Champions League spot. Dest would still be a Barca player but his salary (or parts of it) comes off the books. Barcelona do need to make some financial moves given the way that they got Kounde registered- essentially using a rule that allows them to register a player with the promise that additional funds will be made available. There are real costs to both the club and to Laporta personally if they were to fail to do so.

I feel for Dest. Being a Barcelona player has been a dream for him, he has a contract, and he doesn’t want to leave.
 
Jed Zeppelin

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Musah had this absolute rocket of a golazo called back by VAR (foul in the buildup). Can’t strike a ball much better than this:

 
rguilmar

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Jimy Hendrix

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Antonee twists his ankle delivering a cross and comes off.

Insert Jordan Peele sweating gif here until we hear he’s alright.
 
Titans Bastard

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Jed Zeppelin said:
Silky stuff from our best player Yunus Musah.

Click to expand...
It would be awesome if things really come together for him on the club level.

Musah has been very good for the USMNT despite being victimized by Valencia's CM backlog, which shunted him to the wing where he wasn't that good. Imagine what he could look like with the USMNT now that he's getting regular reps at his best position.
 
DJnVa

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Tell me about Pulisic's fit in a possible Graham Potter team...
 
rguilmar

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Dest getting about 15 minutes for Milan to see out the game against Zagreb. Notably he played RW not RB. He nearly got on the end of a few crosses which obviously isn’t a strength of his.

At least he’s playing and looking confident.
 
Jimy Hendrix

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Brace for Pepi, really nice goal to go along with the penalty. Glad to see the Netherlands doing him some good.
 
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