Indy 11 Breaks Ground on New Stadium Downtown, Indy 11 Women are home tonight
The Indy 11 Broke ground on their new stadium downtown – over by Lucas Oil and the Indiana Indian’s Baseball stadium on the the White River. Read more. See Video Man I can’t wait!!
The undefeated Indy 11 ladies play their first home game tonight at 7 pm at the Grand Park Events Center in Westfield – or you can watch here online Live Stream The Indy 11 roster are from Indy including former Carmel High School stars Katie and Susie Soderstrom and Cassidy Lindley. Grand Park The men are on the Road in Charlestown tonight at 7:30 pm on ESPN+.
US Nations League Roster is Released Right After New Interim Coach BJ Callaghan is Announced
Continuing to be concerned about the brass at US Soccer as Interim Manager Anthony Hudsen has left for a Saudi team leaving former Assistant BJ Callagham in charge. (the Assistant to the Assistant) Just bad optics on the timing especially if Jesse Marsch who is the frontrunner to take over the squad leading into this crucial period before our home 2026 World Cup is going to take over. Why not just do it now – before Nations League in 2 weeks or at least the Gold Cup in July. (lots of stories about the new Manager and the team below)
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Josh Cohen (Maccabi Haifa/ISR; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 8/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 34/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 4/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 14/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG; 43/11), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 25/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 18/4), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0)
FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 30/7), Folarin Balogun (Stade de Reims/FRA; 0/0), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 14/6), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 58/23), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)
Notes
Sad commentary out of Leed’s United this week as they are relagated and immediately blame American players Wes McKinney, and Brendan Aaronson. Of Course Tyler Adams was injured for the last 12 games and still finished as the #4 player in tackles in the EPL – here Tyler Adams does well. Honestly glad to see the little Leeds United States of America experiment is ending. Fulham America is and always be America’s team with the most US players making the most difference over the years. And at least Fulham has class – Leeds it must be said is a dirty little football club full of themselves and their past history. Their fans are amongst THE WORSE in English football if not the world – and I for 1 am glad to see this little experiment is over. Also when Leeds fired American Coach Jesse Marsch they were in 14th place 3 spots from the drop zone. McKinney had just arrived – Adams was healthy. Leeds had a horrific Defense and an even worse GK. Goodbye Leeds – back to where you belong in the Championship.
US U20s World Cup Advance to Final 8 Play Sun 5 pm FS2 vs Uruguay
Uruguay win sets up U20 WC quarter with U.S.
Indy 11 Stadium Renderings – they broke ground this week. Wow.
Good luck to the Carmel FC teams for advancing to Cup Championship weekend!
– 2012 Boys Gold – 2012 Boys Blue – 2007 Boys Gold – 2006 Boys Gold – 2007 Girls Gold
GAMES ON TV
Fri, June 2
6 pm FS2 US Women vs Costa Rica U20
7 pm ?? Indy 11 Women vs Racaing Louisville? Grand Park Events Center
7:30 pm ESPN+ Charlestown vs Indy 11
Sat, June 3
10 am ESPN+ Man City vs Man United FA Cup Final
1:30 pm FS2/Tele Israel vs Brazil U20s WC Quarters
2 pm ESPNU RB Leipzig vs Frankfurt German Cup
3:30 pm Apple TV NYCFC vs New England
4:30 pm Fox Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers
5 pm Tele Colombia vs Italy U20s WC
7:30 pm Apple Cincy vs Chicago Fire
8 pm CBSSN OL Reign vs Portland Thorns NWSL
8 pm Para + Washington Spirit (Williams) vs Racing Louisville
9 pm ESPN+ San Antonio (Jordan Farr) vs San Diego USL
Sun, June 4
12:30 pm ESPN+ Gent (US player) vs Antwerp Belgium
12:30 pm ESPN+ Real Madrid vs Athletic Club
1:30 pm FS2/Tele U20’s World cup Quarters Korea vs Nigeria
3 pm CBSSN? AC Milan vs Hellas Verona
3 pm Para+ Juventus vs Udinese
1:30 pm FS2/Tele U20’s World Cup Quarters
5 pm FS2/Tele USA vs Uruguay U20’s WC Quarters
6 pm CBSSN NY Gotham vs San Diego (Morgan, Girma) NWSL
9 pm FS1 LAFC vs Leon UCL Final
Tues, June 6
7 pm Youtube Cincy vs Pittsburg Riverhounds US Open Cup
8:30 pm CBSAA Chicago vs Houston USOpen
Wed, June 7
1:30 pm FS2 U20 WC Semi 1 USA?
3 pm Para+ West Ham vs Fiorentina Europa Conf Final
5 pm Fox Soccer USU20s Semi-Final 2
8 pm Para? Birmingham Legion vs Inter Miami US Open Cup
9:30 pm Para+ Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy US Open Cup
10:30 pm Apple LAFC vs Atlanta Unted
Sat, June 10
2 pm CBS Champions League Final Man City vs Inter Milan
5 pm FS2 U20 WC Finals
7 pm TV8 Indy 11 vs Hartford
Thurs, June 15
10 pm USMNT vs Mexico Nations League Semi’s
Sat, June 24
9:30 pm USMNT vs Jamaica (Soldier Field) Gold Cup
Wed, June 28
9:30 pm USMNT vs ?? St Louis Gold Cup
un, July 9
4 pm Fox? USWNT vs Wales Send-off
5/7 pm Fox Sports? USMNT Gold Cup Quarter Finals ? in Cincy
Fri, July 21 USWNT vs Vietnam Women’s World Cup
Soccer Saturday’s are every Sat 9-10 am on 93.5 and 107.5 FM with Greg Rakestraw
US Men
USMNT hires 2nd interim amid coaching search Jeff Carlisle
The optics of USMNT’s coaching shuffle aren’t great. The players can be, and that’s what matters
New US coach says no turmoil despite latest staff departure
U.S. Soccer’s Nations League roster includes Folarin Balogun’s first call-up
USMNT to host Germany, Ghana in Oct. matches
Tim Ream Named Top EPL American
FA Cup & German Cup Finals Saturday
Man United have had a great season under Ten Hag. Now comes the real work Gabriele Marcotti
Raphael Varane interview: Why would Manchester United fear Erling Haaland?
Guardiola puts City on red alert as United threaten treble bid in FA Cup final
United aim to rewrite history with FA Cup glory at City’s expense
German Cup final could hinge on French shootout between Nkunku, Kolo Muani
Key battles between Man City and Inter in CL final
MLS
LAFC falls short in first leg against León in CONCACAF Champions League final
Cincinnati go eight points clear, Seattle stumble in MLS
History made: FC Cincinnati notches best 15-match start to a season in MLS history
LA Galaxy Finally Fire Prez Chris Klein amid nightmare start to MLS Season and Fan Boycott
Charlotte FC’s new hero! Brandon Cambridge announces himself to MLS
Former MLS Union Asst Coach – Current US Asst Coach takes over as Interim Head Man for USMNT
As Messi rumours swirl, an Argentine takes charge in Miami
Phil Neville sacked as Miami’s coach in MLS
World
Six La Liga teams battling to beat drop on final day
‘We are dead tired, but proud’: What next for José Mourinho and Roma after Europa League final loss to Sevilla?
‘Proud’ Mourinho leaves Roma fans fearing summer exit
Jose Mourinho issues come and get me plea to PSG – so what next after Europa League breakdown?
MATCHDAY: Fiorentina looking to end Serie A season with a win ahead of European final
Lionel Messi will leave Paris Saint-Germain after season, coach Christophe Galtier confirms
Benzema to leave Real Madrid for Saudi Arabia
EPL
Juve Lead Race to sign Pulisic?
Pochettino Appt ads Irony to Pulisic Trasfer Saga
Chelsea’s Mason Mount agrees personal terms with Manchester United
Sam Allardyce departs Leeds after Premier League relegation
Our way-too-early Premier League predictions for 2023-24
Leeds’ American investors have clear run at full takeover of club
Indy 11
REFFING
Referee, family swarmed by angry fans at airport after José Mourinho criticized, confronted him following Roma loss
Abuse of English referee Anthony Taylor by Roma fans at Budapest airport slammed as ‘abhorrent’
Watch: Jose Mourinho brands Anthony Taylor a ‘f—ing disgrace’ as he confronts referee in the car park
Champions League final referee under UEFA scrutiny for alleged links to far-right leader in Poland
6 Refs Sacked after Vinicius Jr vs Valencia
Goalkeeping
American GK Alyssa Nauher on 500 saves in her Career
Folarin Balogun headlines USMNT roster for CONCACAF Nations League finals
By Paul Tenorio Jun 1, 2023
Folarin Balogun headlines the U.S. men’s national team roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League finals as the newly-committed forward appears set to make his debut after filing a one-time switch to represent the country. Balogun, who has scored 20 goals on loan at Reims in France’s Ligue 1, committed to the U.S. over England and Nigeria last month. The Arsenal striker turns 22 on July 3 and becomes yet another exciting young player to join a core that advanced to the Round of 16 in last fall’s World Cup.The U.S. will face rival Mexico in the Nations League semifinals on June 15 in Las Vegas. Should they win, they would advance to play the winner of Panama-Canada in the Nations League final on June 18.The roster includes 13 players from the roster that went to the World Cup in Qatar, including star winger Christian Pulisic, winger Tim Weah and midfielders Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna. Several players from that team were not available due to injury, most notably captain Tyler Adams, center back Tim Ream and forward Josh Sargent.
Other 2022 World Cup members included in this roster are goalkeepers Matt Turner and Sean Johnson; defenders Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally and Walker Zimmerman; midfielder Luca de la Torre; and forward Brenden Aaronson.
The U.S. will be competing under interim manager B.J. Callaghan, the second interim manager for the U.S. in the last six months. Previous interim manager Anthony Hudson stepped down to take a job with a club in the Middle East, according to multiple sources. The USMNT has been without a full-time manager since Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022. New sporting director Matt Crocker said he hopes to have a hire in place by August.
Balogun will compete at the No. 9 spot against Ricardo Pepi, the 20-year-old striker who was controversially left off the roster for Qatar. Pepi has 12 goals and three assists this season on loan with Groningen in the Dutch Eredivisie and has attracted attention from some of the top teams in Holland, including PSV and Feyenoord, as he looks for a potential move away from Augsburg.The roster includes some interesting names, including Maccabi Haifa goalkeeper Josh Cohen, who worked his way up through the USL before making a move to Israel and eventually playing in the Champions League. Players represent clubs in 10 different countries: England (7), USA (3), France (2), Germany (2), Mexico (2), Netherlands (2), Spain (2), Brazil (1), Canada (1), Israel (1) and Italy (1).
Chris Richards is back in the U.S. camp for the first time since being injured in January 2022 in a World Cup qualifier in Canada. The center back played just nine games this season with Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
With Adams not on the roster, midfielders Johnny Cardoso, who plays professionally with Internacional in Brazil, and Alan Soñora, who features at FC Juarez in Mexico, will try to make a claim on the No. 6 role. De la Torre played there earlier this year but typically plays in a higher role.
Other players that are not available for selection due to injury include goalkeepers Zack Steffen and Ethan Horvath, forward Daryl Dike, center back Cameron Carter-Vickers and midfielder Malik Tillman.
Notably, Reyna is listed as a midfielder on the roster, meaning he will likely feature in a central role. Taylor Booth, meanwhile, was listed as a forward, meaning he will more likely be deployed as a winger in this camp.Eight players were part of the roster that claimed the inaugural 2021 CONCACAF Nations League title: Aaronson, Dest, McKennie, Musah, Pulisic, Reyna, Robinson and Weah.
Detailed roster by position (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (4): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Josh Cohen (Maccabi Haifa/ISR; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 12/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 26/0)
Defenders (7): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 8/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 34/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 21/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 4/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)
Midfielders (6): Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 6/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 14/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG; 43/11), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 25/0), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 18/4), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0),
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Forwards (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 30/7), Folarin Balogun (Stade Reims/FRA; 0/0), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; 2/0), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 14/6), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 58/23), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 3/1)
The team will begin gathering for camp on June 4 in Los Angeles.
Who is B.J. Callaghan? USMNT’s new interim manager has colleagues’ respect
By Paul Tenorio and Tom Bogert May 30, 2023
In the first weeks of his first full-time job in soccer during the 2019 Gold Cup, former U.S. men’s national team scout Michael Stephens watched B.J. Callaghan put in the type of hours you usually read about in the profiles of college football coaches. On Gregg Berhalter’s coaching staff, where long hours were the norm, Callaghan stood out. Stephens would get to the office early and Callaghan would be there. He’d leave late, and Callaghan would still be working. “I just immediately saw the amount of time it was going to require to do the job and be successful,” Stephens told The Athletic in a phone interview on Tuesday. “In an extremely hard-working staff, in camp, out of camp, nobody put in more hours than him.”Callaghan is one of just two staffers remaining who started under Berhalter at the 2019 January camp, right at the start of the 2022 World Cup cycle. After four years working in a number of different roles, he was named Tuesday as interim head coach for this summer’s Nations League finals and Gold Cup. U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that former interim manager Anthony Hudson stepped down. Sources told The Athletic that Hudson accepted a job coaching in the Persian Gulf.This summer represents the USMNT’s first chance to win a trophy since being eliminated by the Netherlands in the round of 16 at the World Cup in December. After the tournament, Berhalter’s contract expired and Hudson had led the group on an interim basis through the January camp, March Nations League games as well as an April friendly against Mexico.
Now, it’s Callaghan keeping the seat warm as U.S. Soccer continues their search for a permanent head coach while defending the USMNT’s Nations League and Gold Cup titles.
“B.J. has been an integral part of the USMNT staff during the last four years as this young team has grown and developed,” sporting director Matt Crocker said in a press release. “Working alongside Anthony Hudson these last five months, we are confident he is prepared and ready to lead this group in the summer tournaments.”
While Callaghan is the longest-serving coach on the staff, he isn’t as well-known to the general public. Those who worked with him, however, hold him in high regard.
“Being somebody that worked with and for B.J., I don’t think you’d be able to find a staff member or player that didn’t have respect for him,” said Stephens, now the director of scouting for the LA Galaxy. “Based on the way he goes about his job, how hard he works and his commitment to the team.”
‘He won’t be outworked’
Callaghan joined the federation after a long stint at the Philadelphia Union, where he worked in the academy for two years then was on the first team staff for five seasons. Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin first linked up with Callaghan at Villanova University when Curtin returned to his alma mater as a volunteer assistant. Two years later, Callaghan joined Curtin in Philly, with both working in the academy.
Curtin joined the first team staff in 2012 and two years later was named head coach. He quickly added Callaghan, who had long worked in the Philadelphia soccer community and was the grandson of famed Villanova basketball coach Jack Kraft, to the first team staff.“Instantly you recognize he’s incredibly hard working— he won’t be outworked,” Curtin told The Athletic. “He’s very loyal and is a very good tactical coach. He understands the game and what certain games need.”Over the years in Philly, Callaghan worked with Curtin as the club took their first steps from expansion laughing stock towards the respected outfit they are today. The Union advanced to three U.S. Open Cup finals and qualified for the playoffs twice. He left ahead of the 2019 season to join Berhalter’s staff at the national team.Colleagues said Callaghan is adept across numerous key phases as a coach. His tactical mind is sharp, he can organize and execute training sessions at a high level and is also a positive influence on locker room culture. Callaghan’s understanding of the USMNT’s game model under Berhalter is strong, having been an active part in its development and progression over the last four years. He was also often the member of the staff who would onboard new USMNT coaches due to his grasp of the system with the national team.“He did so many different tasks and he did them well,” Stephens said. “Everything from player scouting to opposition analysis. He was somebody that all the rest of the staff could count on to do good work.”FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan echoed that sentiment. Noonan worked with Callaghan in Philadelphia as part of Curtin’s staff.“What you see behind the scenes is a very loyal person,” Noonan told The Athletic. “A hard-working person, a smart soccer mind. He’s prepared for this opportunity.”Now in his fifth year on the staff and at the beginning of his second World Cup cycle, Callaghan will face a major test in leading the group this summer. “I understand the responsibility of the job and am honored to have the opportunity to build upon the progress this group has made the last four years,” Callaghan said. “Together, we have built a strong culture and a great understanding of how we want to play, and we expect to continue to build on that progress. Our goal is clear: defend both of our CONCACAF titles.”
The task ahead
Callaghan will be thrown straight into the deep end. His first game in charge is against heated rival Mexico in the semifinal of the Nations League on June 15.“These aren’t just going to be friendlies,” Curtin said. “These are games of consequence right away.”The USMNT won the inaugural Nations League final in 2021 and are defending their title. From there, Callaghan will lead the group at the Gold Cup, again as defending champions. The latter may be the more difficult task in that it’s not just a two-game tournament, but rather a month-long grind. Callaghan, however, won’t be caught by surprise with anything regarding the national team pool. He, along with Hudson, had put together a plan for the summer.That he’s being required to take over at this juncture is more of an indictment on the timeline on which U.S. Soccer is operating. The coaching carousel in global football is underway, which is why Hudson took a full-time opportunity with his contract expiring on Aug. 1. U.S. Soccer, meanwhile, expects to conduct interviews in June and July before hiring a full-time coach by August. They’ll have to hope that some of the top candidates — be it former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch or former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter — don’t take other jobs first.Until they zero in on a candidate, however, the responsibility of managing the team in its first major competitions of this new World Cup cycle will fall to a second interim manager. Callaghan is also set to preside over the senior U.S. debut of striker Folarin Balogun, who is eligible for selection for the first time after FIFA this month approved his one-time switch to represent the United States. Callaghan is close with several players in the pool having maintained individual connections with a group of players during the last four years. That includes players whom he oversaw while with the Union, like Mark McKenzie, Brenden Aaronson and Zack Steffen, as well as others, including Tyler Adams and Tim Ream. Those who worked with him for the national team said there is little doubt the players will be ready to play for Callaghan.“Being part of the federation for as long as he’s been, he’s well positioned to have success,” Noonan said. “He’s in a good position to get the right message to the players in a short amount of time so they can have success on the field.”The USMNT’s Nations League roster will be announced Thursday. Camp opens Monday, with a week and a half before Callaghan’s first match in charge.“I talked with him, I told him to run with this,” Curtin said. “Trust yourself, surround yourself with good people. He’s a name who should be on everybody’s head coaching list for an MLS team, he deserves that kind of a look.”
With a smile and a laugh Curtin added: “We miss him here in Philly, he can come back anytime.”
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USMNT transfer outlook: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and more likely on the move
By Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio THe Athleitc May 29, 2023
In the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, discussions around the U.S. men’s national team centered on potential.
The squad that qualified for the World Cup was the youngest in the world, by average age. They were the second-youngest team at November’s tournament. Over the next three years, however, that narrative will shift and the team will no longer be judged on potential. Many young stars will enter their primes. A home World Cup will increase expectations.
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While the 2026 World Cup feels a long way away, the reality is that this upcoming summer could have a massive influence on the growth of the young core of the USMNT. It will influence whether the reality of this team’s maturation matches the expectations.
From stars like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams in their mid-20s looking for the correct move as they enter their prime, to younger stalwarts like Yunus Musah and Tim Weah seeking the next step in their promising young careers, to players further down the pool like Auston Trusty and Taylor Booth trying to firm up their standing in the pool and become regular call-ups, the decisions on which clubs to play for — the countries, the styles of play, their roles within the team, whether they regularly feature in European competition — will impact each individual’s respective development.
That, in turn, will reflect on the USMNT.
It’s a summer of flux for the U.S. national team, from organizational leadership to technical staff, down through the pool’s biggest stars.
U.S. Soccer named Matt Crocker sporting director in April, the first of a crucial set of top-down decisions at the program. Crocker said last week he aims to hire a USMNT head coach by August. That person will play a huge role in the direction of the program. Another key decision came this month when FIFA approved Folarin Balogun’s switch to represent the United States after previously being with England, completed in time to debut next month at the Nations League.
With his international future sorted, Balogun can focus on charting his club future. But, as noted above, the uncertainty of where he will play next season is shared by a significant swath of the first-team pool. More than a dozen European-based U.S. players could be on the move this summer.
Where the players land won’t be entirely in their hands. How many of the players are going to be first-choice transfer options? How many others will learn their fate later in the window, as other players at their positions are bought and sold? How much will individual desire — the want to play for a Champions League contender versus the desire to be a featured star — weigh against what the market looks like for the players?
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Here’s a look at the pivotal upcoming window for European-based U.S. players.
Likely to leave
Christian Pulisic
Starting with a captain, and the biggest star, Christian Pulisic looks to be on the move from Chelsea this summer.
There is one year left on his current deal and the winger played just 813 minutes in the Premier League this season, falling down the pecking order under three different managers just in 2022-23. Mauricio Pochettino will be the next Chelsea manager, maybe he has a different opinion on Pulisic’s standing in a crowded attacking group.
Figuring out a likely landing spot is murky. Finances, stature and Chelsea’s own plans cloud the outlook. Pulisic has been linked in potential swap deals for Chelsea to acquire other targets.
Newcastle, who officially qualified for the Champions League, could be a candidate for Pulisic with the right combination of European soccer, money to cover the deal and route to regular first-team minutes. Italian giants AC Milan and Napoli could make sense, but finances will be a hurdle.
There is a question, too, about what Pulisic is looking for. Does he want to go to another Champions League team where he’ll be in a fight for every minute? Does he drop down to the next tier of club, where he’ll be asked to be the man and develop in that way?
There’s a lot to be figured out at a crucial career point for the 24-year-old.
Tyler Adams
A stellar debut season in England for Tyler Adams was cut short by hamstring surgery in March, a crucial blow for Leeds United’s fight against relegation, which became inevitable on the final day of the season. The club finished 19th in the league and will spend 2023-24 in the Championship.
The expectation is Adams will depart now. But where to?
Adams’ performance and stylistic fit in the Premier League will make him an attractive option for any club outside the top six that can afford him. Will Adams prefer a potential rotation role at a top-six club or look to be a crucial starter at a club further down the table, like he was with Leeds?
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Adams spent two and a half seasons at RB Leipzig and his style fits well with the Bundesliga, but German clubs will find it difficult to compete with Premier League clubs’ offers both in terms of transfer fee and contract.
Yunus Musah
After three seasons as a key player in Valencia’s midfield, Yunus Musah is likely to depart for a new challenge this summer. The Premier League is a likely landing spot.
Musah, 20, has been linked with numerous Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and more. He’s a former England youth international and was a product of Arsenal’s academy before he joined Valencia.
Valencia is in a relegation battle and is in a good spot heading into the final day of the season, but aren’t mathematically safe yet. The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported he could be available for around $22 million.
Musah has already accrued 24 caps for the USMNT and is a crucial member of the squad.
Folarin Balogun
The USMNT’s newest star already made one crucial decision ahead of the summer when FIFA officially approved his switch to represent the United States, but now Balogun needs to sort his club situation.The 21-year-old has excelled on loan in France with Reims from Arsenal this season, becoming the first American to score 20 goals in one season in a top-five league. He has scored 20 of Reims’ 44 goals, the highest percentage of any player in France. He’s tied for fourth in the Golden Boot chase.
Ornstein reported last month Balogun wants to be a first-choice striker wherever he plays next season, which is unlikely at Arsenal with Gabriel Jesus and others in place. He also reported Balogun doesn’t want to go on loan again, with a permanent transfer the preference. AC Milan, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Monaco are clubs expected to pursue Balogun.
Weston McKennie
Weston McKennie’s time at Leeds did not go well, with the fans chanting “you fat b—rd” at the American as he subbed out on the final day of the season.
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McKennie will return to Juventus from his failed loan to Leeds. Will he make another move to England?
Brighton and Hove Albion is the latest club to be linked for a move this summer, while Bournemouth and Aston Villa were reportedly interested in the midfielder in January before he went to Leeds. The 24-year-old made 41 appearances this season between Juventus and Leeds.
Photo courtesy of Robbie Jay Barratt, AMA/Getty Images.
Sergiño Dest
Dest’s move to Barcelona from Ajax has been far from a dream. And his loan to AC Milan turned into a nightmare. This summer, his next transfer, be it permanent or on loan, is at an inflection point for his young career.
Dest, 22, has made only two Serie A starts this season with Milan and hasn’t appeared in a league game since January 24. He hasn’t even made the bench since March 4. Milan won’t trigger his purchase option and Dest will return to Barcelona this summer before likely making a new move.
Dest has been linked with a loan move to Union Berlin, where he could join fellow USMNT teammate Jordan Pefok, but one source, who’s involved in discussions regarding Dest’s future and granted anonymity to speak freely, told The Athletic that report isn’t true. Considering the stature of Dest’s clubs so far, the hope will be that he is back in the Champions League next season, but more importantly, he needs to find a club where he will get regular minutes again.
Tim Weah
Weah was a regular for Lille this season, but the attacker spent most of his minutes at either right or left fullback. For the USMNT, he thrives as a direct winger in a 4-3-3.
The 23-year-old could leave Lille this summer. Clubs from each of the top five leagues are interested, while a source involved in discussions regarding Weah’s future confirmed to The Athletic that Marseille is indeed among the clubs pursuing him.
Weah joined Lille from PSG in 2019 and won a league title with the club in 2020-21. Lille currently sits fifth with two matches remaining in the Ligue 1 season. Weah scored the opening goal for the U.S. at the World Cup and is a leader and glue guy in the locker room. The hope will be that he gets back into a squad where he’ll play regularly at the winger spot he plays on the international stage.
Brenden Aaronson
Like Adams, it’s expected Brenden Aaronson will be on the move this summer following Leeds’ relegation.
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The Athletic reported that Aaronson does indeed have a relegation release clause in his contract and that sources are expecting it to be triggered. He should have options to remain in the top flight.
Aaronson, signed last summer for $30 million from RB Salzburg in a deal that was dependent on Leeds staying in the Premier League, appeared in 36 of the club’s 38 league games this season but hasn’t started in more than a month.
The 22-year-old broke through at the Philadelphia Union before transferring to RB Salzburg, where he stayed for a year and a half ahead of Leeds. The hard-working attacker has 29 caps with the USMNT.
Ricardo Pepi
Pepi is pushing to leave Augsburg this summer, a sentiment that has been conveyed to the German club in no uncertain terms, and it’s already gotten messy.
Pepi, his agent and Augsburg have all put out differing quotes on his future. Pepi was quoted by Fabrizio Romano saying there was “no chance” he’d stay at Augsburg after the club said they were counting on him for next season. Pepi’s agent was quoted by Dutch media saying the club should answer Pepi’s text before speaking about him publicly. Augsburg have made it clear they don’t feel they need to sell him.
PSV and Feyenoord are among the clubs interested in Pepi, but nailing down a price point will be difficult. Augsburg paid a club-record fee of around $18 million upfront plus $2 million incentives to sign the forward from Dallas 18 months ago and he’s under contract until the summer of 2026 with a club option for another year, so Augsburg has leverage.
Pepi, 20, has 12 goals on loan with FC Groningen in the Dutch top flight, though the club has been relegated to the second tier for next season.
Zack Steffen
Steffen plans to leave Manchester City this summer, perhaps on a permanent deal but another loan can’t be ruled out.
“I don’t think I’ll go back,” Steffen told Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer in March. “No, I want to be playing. Although I had a great time at City and I love those guys, and obviously an amazing club, I don’t really have any plans to go back.”
Steffen, 28, spent this season on loan with Middlesbrough in the Championship. They failed to win promotion, losing in the Championship playoffs, and announced Steffen as one of the players who would be departing this summer. Steffen was acquired by Manchester City for around $7.5 million upfront (with add-ons to take the fee up to $10 million) in January 2019.
Options for loan or permanent deals elsewhere in England as well as Germany, where he spent 2019-20 on loan with Dusseldorf, are likely.
Ethan Horvath
The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper spent the season on loan at Luton Town and was a significant part of their promotion to the Premier League. Horvath started 44 games for Luton this season, with a rate of 0.84 goals against per 90 minutes. His post-shot expected goals rate was slightly under what was expected, but Horvath was mostly steady in net and, for the second straight season, was involved in the promotion of a team from the Championship to the Premier League.
Luton has the option to make the loan permanent. Considering his role this season, it would not be surprising if they triggered that option this summer.
Malik Tillman
On loan at Rangers from Bayern Munich, Malik Tillman has had a breakout season in Scotland. The original deal includes a purchase option: Will Rangers pick it up?
Tillman, turning 21 next week, has 11 goals and four assists in 43 appearances across all competitions for the Scottish giants this season. He made seven appearances for Bayern last season as he looked to break into the first team. Tillman will no doubt have a big say as to whether he remains in Scotland or seeks another move.
Bryan Reynolds
Reynolds is overwhelmingly expected to leave AS Roma this summer, with numerous clubs hopeful to take on the 21-year-old fullback.
The Athleticreported last week that West Ham is pursuing Reynolds, while Westerlo has already had an initial bid rejected. Part of West Ham’s plan would be to loan Reynolds to Sparta Prague next season for consistent playing time, a source with knowledge of the discussions told The Athletic.
Clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and England are interested. With Reynolds’ familiarity and form in Belgium — currently on loan at Westerlo and spent half a season at Kortrijk — staying in Belgium or heading to the neighboring Netherlands seems likely.
Reynolds played just one Serie A minute under Jose Mourinho after being signed by Roma from FC Dallas in January 2021.
Auston Trusty
Trusty’s first season in England was a strong one; he was named Birmingham City’s Supporters’ Player of the Year while on loan from Arsenal.
It is unlikely Trusty breaks into Arsenal’s first-team squad, of course, and so he is expected to be on the move again. The 24-year-old has been linked with Rangers, and after his success with Birmingham, he’s likely to have interest elsewhere in the Championship.
Trusty started 44 of Birmingham’s Championship matches, a constant presence on the club’s backline. He chipped in with four goals as well.
Taylor Booth
Booth parlayed his career season with Utrecht into his USMNT debut in March.
The versatile midfielder, turning 22 next week, has two goals and four assists in 24 Eredivisie appearances over his debut season in the Netherlands after leaving Bayern Munich. Performances for a club like this often catch the attention of bigger clubs in the league as well as elsewhere in Europe.
Utrecht will want to cash in on Booth, and where they set the price is critical.
Probably staying
This portion isn’t exhaustive. For instance, it’s obvious Tim Ream will remain with Fulham, Joe Scally with Borussia Monchengladbach and Daryl Dike with West Brom, to name a few.
Gio Reyna
Borussia Dortmund were left heartbroken on the final day of the season, failing to nail down their first Bundesliga title in more than a decade thanks to a home draw to Mainz. While Gio Reyna hasn’t been a regular starter, he was a contributor to the title push with seven goals and two assists in 610 minutes.
Reyna is still only 20 years old and should have an improved outlook for playing time next season as he continues to develop and, hopefully, have better injury luck.
Any potential transfer would have to be for huge money, Reyna is regarded as one of the most talented U-21 players in the world. Dortmund has a history of developing and selling players for big money, like when Chelsea signed Pulisic from Dortmund for north of $70 million in 2019. Considering the drama that surrounded Reyna after the World Cup, however, this summer may not be the best time to try to maximize that value, and Reyna’s role off the bench in the back half of the season doesn’t set up well for that, either.
Photo courtesy of Alex Grimm, Getty Images.
Josh Sargent
It wasn’t a season to remember for Norwich City, but it was an important one for Sargent.
Sargent, 23, easily set career bests in goals (13) and league minutes (3,158). He didn’t exclusively play center forward but spent more time there than he has for a couple of years, key for his trajectory and development. Teemu Pukki is leaving the club this summer, giving Sargent even more opportunity to play center forward next year.
He is happy at Norwich and isn’t likely to leave this summer, despite interest in Germany. Norwich spent around $11 million to sign him and gave him a contract through 2025. He wouldn’t be available for cheap and Bundesliga clubs would struggle to match his salary.
Norwich was thought among the better Championship teams following their relegation from the Premier League but finished 13th. They’ll push again for promotion next season.
Matt Turner
While Turner (and any other goalkeeper) would prefer to be the first choice, a move from Arsenal this summer is unlikely.
Turner, 28, only joined Arsenal at the beginning of this season from the New England Revolution. He made seven appearances for Arsenal, five in the Europa League and two in the FA Cup, as he still awaits his Premier League debut behind No. 1 Aaron Ramsdale.
It will be a similar outlook next season for Turner behind Ramsdale, likely deputizing the cup matches barring injury. Arsenal qualified for the Champions League so there won’t be Europa League games to bank on either.
(Photo: Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
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