Summer Club News Updates for the USMNT
It’s been a busy summer for US Soccer fans, starting with the bitter disappointment of the Copa America, continuing with the relief at the firing of Berhalter, and ending with the USWNT returning to glory with Olympic Gold. It’s hard to believe that the major European seasons are about to start this weekend (August 16!).
We expect most fans have been busy following the actual matches…and hopefully taking some nice summer vacations. So let’s catch up on all the transfer news involving the USMNT’s biggest stars, and a few who could become stars soon.
the headliners
These guys are truly the core of the USMNT. If we’re going to make a run at the 2026 World Cup, these guys will have to play and play well. We want to see them all getting regular minutes and playing at a high level.
forwards
folarin balogun (AS Monaco, Ligue 1, France's TOP Division, 23 Yrs old)
Balogun moved to Monaco last summer and had a mediocre first season. He figures to get more playing time this year, as Wissam Ben Yeder started 26 games last year but has moved on. Balogun has started Monaco’s last 3 pre-season friendlies and looks set to get a big opportunity to build on the great form he showed in Copa America
christian pulisic (AC Milan, Serie A, Italy's Top Division, 25 Yrs old)
Pulisic hasn’t changed teams, but there’s been a lot going on at AC Milan. They have a new manager, Paolo Fonseca. He plays a 4-2-3-1 and has been playing Pulisic centrally, in a #10 role (attacking mid/playmaker) but seems comfortable playing him on either wing as well. We like it. Pulisic’s preferred strike partner, Olivier Giroud has been replaced by Alvaro Morata. Hopefully they’ll develop the same strong connection Pulisic had with Giroud.
Tim weah (Juventus, serie A, 24 yrs old)
Another Italian club with 2 American players and a new manager. Thiago Motta is taking over at Juve, moving in from Bologna. Motta has moved Weah from a wing back into his more natural right winger position, and Weah has started the last 3 pre-season friendlies. Hopefully his playing time improves over last season.
midfield
weston mckennie (Juventus, serie A, 25 yrs old)
New Juve coach Thiago Motta is giving the squad a serious makeover, and that means moving on from multiple Juve regulars including Federico Chiesa and our very own Weston McKennie. McKennie hasn’t moved yet, but needs to find a new club in the next couple of weeks. Fiorentina (mid-table in Serie A) is in the mix, recent reports indicate Inter Miami submitted a bid for McKennie. Returning to MLS too early killed Michael Bradley’s USMNT career, so we’re hoping Wes stays in Italy.
gio reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Bundesliga, germany's top division, 21 yrs old)
Conventional wisdom has been Reyna needs a move away from Dortmund, bad. His playing time declined early last season, prompting an unsuccessful loan to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Marco Reus started half of Dortmund’s Bundesliga matches last year in Reyna’s position, but has left the club. No obvious replacement has come in through transfers, so Reyna may get a shot. He started a pre-season friendly against Villareal and came on as a sub against Aston Villa.
tyler adams (Bournemouth, Premier League, England's Top Division, 25 yrs old)
Adams made headlines shortly after our Copa America exit, when he underwent back surgery. We said he looked rusty in Copa America and we suspect the back injury was the true culprit. He’ll be out for the first couple of months of the season and really needs a good run of games to get back fit and playing at his best.
yunus musah (Ac milan, 21 yrs old)
Paolo Fonseca taking over at Milan introduces uncertainty for Musah, who started 13 Serie A matches last season but played in 30. Those are solid minutes at a top team, especially for a 21 year old. So far, no major change in how Musah is being used in Milan’s pre-season friendlies, but rumors are Milan will sign Youssouf Fofana which would take minutes away from Musah.
Defense / keeper
Sergino dest (psv Eindhoven, eredivisie, Netherland's top division, 23 yrs old)
Dest was a big miss for the USMNT during Copa America. He tore his ACL in April and will likely not return to the field until early 2025. The big news this summer was that he made his move from Barcelona to PSV permanent, which was briefly in doubt following his ACL tear. We’re relieved to see PSV show faith in Dest, who was excellent for them last year until his injury.
matt turner (nottingham forest, premier league, 30 yrs old)
Turner’s situation at Forest went from bad to worse this summer. He got benched midway through last season, and the club brought in another keeper in the transfer window. Turner is 3rd on the depth chart and needs a move. Clubs in the Bundesliga and La Liga have expressed interest so hopefully he’ll get another opportunity for regular minutes before the season begins.
Best of the rest
These guys either provide depth on the team now, or very well could be doing that in the near future.
brenden aaronson (m/f, Leeds united, championship, England's second division, 23 yrs old)
Aaronson spent last season at Union Berlin in Germany’s top division, on loan from Leeds. It was a mediocre season, and while there was speculation he would make a permanent move elsewhere, his stock seems to be falling somewhat. He’s returned to Leeds in the Championship this season, and it feels like both club and player are lukewarm on the prospect.
Tim Ream (D, Charlotte FC, MLS, 36 yrs old)
Ream moved from Fulham in the Premier League to Charlotte in MLS this offseason. Perhaps recognition that his days at the top level are coming to an end. It will be interesting to see how the new manager of the MNT uses Ream, if at all.
tanner tessman (m, Venezia, serie A, 22 yrs old)
Venezia was promoted from Serie B to Serie A last year. Tessman started virtually every match alongside USA Olympic teammate Gianluca Busio. Tessman is now rumored to be moving to Fiorentina, where it’s possible he could join Weston McKennie in a new must-watch US midfield pairing in Serie A.
Caleb wiley (d/f, strasbourg, Ligue 1, 19 yrs old)
Premier League side Chelsea acquired Wiley this summer from MLS side Atlanta United. They immediately loaned Wiley to Strasbourg, where he’ll play for rumored USMNT coaching candidate, Patrick Viera.
gaga slonina (gk, Barnsley, First Division, English third tier, 20 yrs old)
Slonina moved to Chelsea at the age of 18 and has been on loan since. He spent last season as the #1 keeper at KAS Eupen in Belgium, and this year he’ll be between the sticks for Barnsley in England’s third tier. Perhaps he’ll make an appearance on Welcome to Wrexham, as Barnsley play newly promoted Wrexham on December 3.
aidan morris (m, middlesbrough, championship, 22 yrs old)
Morris moved from Columbus Crew to Middlesbrough this summer. His new manager is Man United midfield legend Michael Carrick, which could be huge for his development. Morris started the first match of the Championship season and was named Man of the Match
Other Notes
There have been minimal offseason changes for these guys, but we’re listing them here just so you know we didn’t forget about them.
Jack McGlynn (M, Philadelphia Union, MLS, 21 Yrs Old) – McGlynn is rumored to be drawing interest from La Liga (Spain’s Top Division) side Real Sociedad and from PSV, where he could join 3 other young Americans.
Griffin Yow (F, KVC Westerlo, Belgium, 21 Yrs Old) – Yow impressed at the Olympics and reports are that he’s drawing interest from the English Championship, Belgian giants RSC Anderlecht, and teams in Germany.
Status quo: Johnny Cardoso (M, Real Betis, La Liga, 22 Yrs Old); Cameron Carter-Vickers (D, Celtic, Scottish Premier League, 26 Yrs Old); Luca de la Torre (M, Celta Vigo, La Liga, 26 Yrs Old); Ethan Horvath (GK, Cardiff City, Championship, 29 Yrs Old); Kristoffer Lund (D, Palermo, Serie B, 22 Yrs Old); Mark McKenzie (D, KRC Genk, Belgium, 25 Yrs Old); Kevin Paredes (F, Wolfsburg, Bundesliga, 21 Yrs Old); Ricardo Pepi (F, PSV Eindhoven, Eredivisie, 21 Yrs Old); Chris Richards (D, Crystal Palace, Premier League, 24 Yrs Old); Antonee Robinson (D, Fulham, Premier League, 27 Yrs Old); Miles Robinson (D, FC Cincinatti, MLS, 27 Yrs Old); Josh Sargent (F, Norwich City, Championship, 24 Yrs Old); Joe Scally (D, Borussia Munchengladbach, Bundesliga, 21 Yrs Old); Malik Tillman (M/F, PSV Eindhoven, Eredivisie, 22 Yrs Old); Haji Wright (F, Coventry City, Championship, 26 Yrs Old)
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Pulisic scored, and was Milan’s best player, again! It’s almost every game this year he’s been either the best player by the data or as voted by fans. …But we get some bad vibes from his teammates twice stripping him of the PK responsibility against the coach’s orders. Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham both had their PKs saved by David de Gea – so they probably should have let Pulisic, who is 10/10 in his career, take them.
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This is basically how the USMNT would line up in our first matches under Pochettino – if he made his decisions based ONLY on current club form. He obviously won’t do that – but it’s a cool way to look at who is playing well, and who isn’t, for the USMNT.
10.4 – Weekend preview
Best matches of the weekend, brought to you by #DosACero. This is the final match window before the guys head to #Austin for the FIRST CAMP WITH POCHETTINO. Here’s hoping for a strong set of performances, with everyone coming in hot. LFG!