The U.S. National Team has a number of young players either breaking out on the European club scene, or hitting their prime with prominent Premier League and Champions League clubs.
Yet a number of them are in situations where their futures are undetermined, either working to leave their current clubs for more playing time, or seeing their contracts nearing their expiration.
USMNT captain Christian Pulisic is chief among those, as the 24-year-old looks likely to depart Chelsea this summer as his contract drags on and his playing time diminishes. So, too, will new USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, whose situation at Arsenal seems to be pointing towards an exit.
Timothy Weah is also on the move — he’s completed a transfer to Juventus from Lille for a fee that could rise to $14.6 million.
Leeds United duo Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson are on track to depart after relegation from the Premier League, while Weston McKennie could make an exit from Juventus as well.
The Sporting News brings you all the latest from each U.S. player mentioned in the tidal waves of transfer rumors that are reaching our shores each summer.
MORE: Most expensive transfer deals this summer as Bellingham sets early benchmark
Player
Current
Club
Linked to
Transferred to
Tyler Adams
Leeds (ENG)
Aston Villa (ENG)
Brighton (ENG)
Newcastle (ENG)
Arsenal (ENG)
TBD
Brenden Aaronson
Leeds (ENG)
Fulham (ENG)
Union Berlin (GER)
TBD
Folarin Balogun
Arsenal (ENG)
C. Palace (ENG)
E. Frankfurt (GER)
Marseille (FRA)
Inter Milan (ITA)
AC Milan (ITA)
AS Monaco (FRA)
RB Leipzig (GER)
TBD
Taylor Booth
FC Utrecht (NED)
Man United (ENG)
TBD
Sergino Dest
Barcelona (SPA)
Besiktas (TUR)
C. Palace (ENG)
Union Berlin (GER)
West Ham (ENG)
TBD
Weston McKennie
Juventus (ITA)
AS Roma (ITA)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
TBD
Yunus Musah
Valencia (SPA)
Chelsea (ENG)
AC Milan (ITA)
West Ham (ENG)
TBD
Ricardo Pepi
Augsburg (GER)
PSV Eindhoven (NED)
TBD
Christian Pulisic
Chelsea (ENG)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Juventus (ITA)
AC Milan (ITA)
Napoli (ITA)
Lyon (FRA)
TBD
Gio Reyna
B. Dortmund (GER)
TBD
TBD
Bryan Reynolds
AS Roma (ITA)
West Ham (ENG)
Westerlo (BEL)
TBD
Antonee Robinson
Fulham (ENG)
Man City (ENG)
Marseille (FRA)
AC Milan (ITA)
Newcastle (ENG)
TBD
Zack Steffen
Man City (ENG)
Leicester City (ENG)
TBD
Malik Tillman
Bayern Munich (GER)
Brighton (ENG)
Brentford (ENG)
Rangers (SCO)
TBD
Tim Weah
LOSC Lille (FRA)
—
Juventus (ITA)
Christian Pulisic transfer news
As he enters the last year of his Chelsea contract, Christian Pulisic looks set to leave England for a move to AC Milan in Italy, with negotiations having advanced to the “final stages of negotiations” with AC Milan over a €22 million ($24m / £18.8m) transfer from Chelsea, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The saga began a month prior when an initial report by Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport stated back on June 9 that there is mutual interest from all sides on a move for Pulisic to Milan. Milan reportedly submitted an initial bid of €14 million ($15.3m / £12m), according to The Athletic, but that was well beaten by other offers.
While the Italian side was reportedly hesitant to go higher than that initial submission, The Athletic reported a few days later that Milan had moved past those fears and are back with a €22 million($24m / £18.8m) bid for Pulisic. This appears to be their final attempt, as the report also claims they’ve lined up a backup option if this move does not materialize.
Milan do have competition for Pulisic, as David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that French club Lyon has bid €25 million for Pulisic ($27.3m / £21.4m), which would meet Chelsea’s valuation. However, it was later reported by ESPN that Pulisic was not interested in a move to Lyon
Two other Italian clubs are reportedly interested in Christian Pulisic, with ESPN reporting Juventus remain in the hunt, and defending champions Napoli interested in the American as well. Reports claim Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis would be interested in Pulisic for both sporting and economic reasons, hoping to tap into the U.S. sponsorship market.
MORE: Get the full breakdown of all the Christian Pulisic transfer rumors this summer
ESPN also reports that Turkish club Galatasaray could be in the hunt, although that seems like a last resort for a player with significantly higher aspirations of performing at a Big 5 European league side.
Folarin Balogun transfer news
The Gunners academy product is looking to leave Arsenal this summer on a permanent basis, according to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano on the Here We Go podcast.
According to Romano, Balogun believes he’s more than just a young talent needing time to prove his abilities, and instead an important player who wants to find a new home with a club that values him as a top player.
According to 90mins, after Balogun rejected another Arsenal contract offer, the club has told his representatives to find the American international a new home. Romano notes that Balogun could bide his time to find a new club, as he’ll try to wait for the striker market to flesh out a bit.
Romano states that Crystal Palace, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Marseille, AS Monaco and RB Leipzig are in touch with the club, but more suitors could materialize as the process unfolds. L’Equipe confirms the Marseille interest in the player.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that Eintracht Frankfurt are also in the mix, while also mentioning Monaco and Leipzig. Italian publication Calciomercato claims that AC Milan are interested in Balogun.
Tyler Adams transfer news
Despite only just joining Leeds United in the summer of 2022, relegation from the Premier League means that Adams could be set to depart with Aston Villa (The Athletic), Newcastle United, and Arsenal mentioned as interested clubs. Other reports in England indicate that Brighton have identified Adams as a potential replacement for Moises Caicedo, who is likely to depart for big money.
Transfermarkt rates Adams at $21.5 million (€20 million), which could be a good enough price for Leeds to pull the trigger. His existing contract runs through the summer of 2027.
Gio Reyna transfer news
According to a report by German publication Bild, Gio Reyna has been transfer listed by Borussia Dortmund, with the German club looking to move on after an injury-plagued season for the American.
The report states that Dortmund will look for around €20 million ($22m / £17m) for Reyna, and if a bid close to that comes in, they could pull the trigger. No clubs have yet been linked to Reyna, suggesting this is still in the early stages.
Long-time soccer writer Brian Sciaretta cites German outlet Ruhr Nachrichten, which claims that “the club is not seeking buyers for Gio Reyna, but if Reyna submitted a transfer request, BVB would negotiate with a buyer for a reasonable price.”
Weston McKennie transfer news
While Juventus chase Christian Pulisic, his U.S. international teammate Weston McKennie could be among those heading in the opposite direction.
McKennie struggled in a loan spell at Leeds last season, and there are reports from multiple outlets that McKennie is not in Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri’s future plans. Additionally, Leeds did not wish to trigger McKennie’s €34 million ($37m) buy option, which will be considered high given his performances in 2022/23.
ESPN reported in early July that talks with Borussia Dortmund have “recently progressed” and that a move to the German club would be of interest to all parties. BvB are looking to replace Jude Bellingham, who was sold to Real Madrid for a massive fee. They have already signed attacking midfielder Felix Nmecha from Wolfsburg for big money.
According to a report by Corriere dello Sport, AS Roma have made contact with McKennie’s representatives to sound out a potential deal. Roma head coach Jose Mourinho would be a positive influence on McKennie, and with Roma playing in the Europa League next season, it could be a good landing spot for the American midfielder.
Sergino Dest transfer news
After failing to nail down a place in the squad at either his parent club Barcelona or loan side AC Milan last season, Sergino Dest will now look to find a more suitable permanent home.
Dest had a €20 million ($22m) buy option in his AC Milan loan, but Rossoneri boss Stefano Pioli stated that Dest struggled to adapt to his tactical setup, leading to a lack of playing time for the American.
In April, Dest was linked with a move to rising Bundesliga club Union Berlin, but there has been no word on that front since those initial reports. He has since been linked with West Ham and Crystal Palace of the Premier League, and most recently with a move to Besiktas of the Turkish Super Lig.
Yunus Musah transfer news
Young midfielder Yunus Musah could be eyeing a move away from Valencia after narrowly avoiding relegation this past season in Spain’s La Liga.
The 20-year-old has been linked with a move to West Ham as a Declan Rice replacement, as well as Chelsea and AC Milan.
The AC Milan option is gaining steam, according to Nicolo Schira, while Fabrizio Romano reported that Valencia have a “verbal bid” from Chelsea, and that €20 million could be enough to see him off.
Brenden Aaronson transfer news
Following Leeds’ relegation to the Championship, Brenden Aaronson is likely to depart Elland Road. Tom Bogert and Phil Hay of The Athletic reported that Aaronson has a relegation clause in his contract, which is likely to be triggered, giving him a “much more likely route to departing the club this summer.”
His destination appears to be Bundesliga club Union Berlin who have reportedly won the race for the Leeds winger, who will move to Germany on loan, according to The Athletic. It’s unclear whether his loan will include a buy option for Union Berlin, who will play in the Champions League next season after shocking the Bundesliga with a fourth-place finish last season.
Union Berlin beat out “several English and German clubs” for Aaronson, the Athletic report states. One of those clubs seems to be Fulham, who were linked with Aaronson by The Daily Mail. The report stated that the Whites were hoping to grab the American on loan, but had so far “failed to meet the full conditions of the loan” that would trigger the player’s relegation clause.
Ricardo Pepi transfer news
Young striker Ricardo Pepi was a top performer last season with Dutch club FC Groningen (13 goals in 31 matches), despite the club suffering relegation from the Eredivisie. He was impressive enough that the on-loan striker won’t be returning to his German club Augsburg.
Another Eredivisie club will ensure he remains in the Netherlands. Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Pepi would be on his way to PSV Eindhoven, who finished second in the league last year and scored the most goals of any Dutch club. The deal has yet to be officially announced.
According to reports, PSV are paying Augsburg €10 million ($11m) for Pepi, who was acquired by the Bundesliga club for €8 million ($8.8m) just a year prior. His contract with PSV will run through 2028 and Augsburg will get a 20 percent sell-on clause.
Other USMNT transfer rumors
While those are the most notable U.S. national team players mentioned in the news, it’s still early in the summer window, and more players could enter the transfer fray.
Matt Turner
Goalkeeper Matt Turner is stuck behind Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal, with Ramsdale just signing a new contract at the end of the previous season. It’s possible Turner might want to seek a loan away from The Emirates knowing his status as the No. 1 ‘keeper with the USA could hinge on more consistent playing time.
Zack Steffen
After a season-long spell at Middlesbrough, Zack Steffen is back at Manchester City looking for his next move, given his future doesn’t lie with Pep Guardiola’s squad. Another Championship side, Leicester City, are apparently in the running to sign him on a permanent transfer.
Tim Weah
With winger Tim Weah’s contract at Lille set to expire in the summer of 2024, the French club decided to cash in on the American, who is still just 23 years old. On July 1, Juventus announced the signing of the forward on a five-year contract for a transfer fee that could rise to $14.6 million (€13.4 million).
Taylor Booth
According to a report by Rob Dawson of ESPN, Manchester United are considering a deal for young American international Taylor Booth, with talks stalling on a Mason Mount transfer. The former Bayern Munich youth product moved to Dutch side FC Utrecht last summer on a free transfer and impressed, scoring two goals and assisting four others through 24 Eredivisie appearances. But Spain’s Celta Vigo are also interested.
Antonee Robinson
After impressing over the past few seasons with Fulham, Antonee Robinson has occasionally been mentioned in connection with a move to higher-profile Premier League clubs. Manchester City, Newcastle, Marseille, and AC Milan have all been linked, with Fulham reportedly asking for £35 million ($44.5m).
Bryan Reynolds
22-year-old right-back Bryan Reynolds has been at AS Roma since moving from FC Dallas in the 2021 winter transfer window, but he’s reportedly not in the future plans and could be shopped. He spent last year on loan at two different Belgian clubs, with the second Westerlo reportedly holding a buy option in his contract, and they are pushing to bring him back permanently. Yet they may have competition from teams like West Ham in England, who could look to add Reynolds to their depth chart.
Malik Tillman
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Scottish club Rangers and excelled, and while he could have stayed at the club long-term by triggering a miniscule £5 million buy option, Bayern reportedly exercised a buy-back option in his contract, which nullified the buy option but gives Rangers a cut of any potential transfer.
The German club is hoping to transfer him to a Premier League team, according to German publication Kicker, and The Daily Mail has indicated that Brighton and Brentford are the two teams most interested. He could also return to Rangers should the two parties work out a permanent deal.
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