Category: Americans Abroad

Jordan Pefok scored in his first official Union Berlin game, and it was a banger

There will be tougher opponents to come, but it’s always nice to score on your official debut

Jordan Pefok is among a myriad of U.S. national team forwards fighting for a spot on the World Cup roster.

An offseason move from Swiss side Young Boys to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga gave Pefok a major platform to make his case. Sure, he scored goals for fun in Switzerland, but it would be hard to ignore a forward routinely scoring in one of the world’s top leagues.

Bundesliga play hasn’t started yet but in his official debut for the club, Pefok got off to the best possible start with Union.

Facing fourth-tier Chemnitzer FC in the German cup on Monday, Pefok netted an acrobatic second-half goal to equalize.

There will be tougher opponents to come, but it’s always nice to score on your official debut.

Watch Pefok’s debut Union Berlin goal

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Weston McKennie out at least three weeks with a dislocated shoulder

The midfielder will be out for three weeks, and most likely longer

Weston McKennie is set to miss the start of the season for Juventus after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

McKennie suffered the injury in training last week and was forced to miss his team’s friendly against Real Madrid on Saturday.

On Monday, Juventus released a statement saying that the midfielder would require at least three weeks on the sideline.

“Weston McKennie underwent radiological examinations at J | Medical this morning, which revealed a capsular lesion of the left shoulder,” the statement said. “The player will begin rehabilitation, three weeks’ differentiated work will be required.”

Juventus begins its regular-season campaign on August 15 against Sassuolo, then faces Sampdoria a week later. Should he miss at least month, as some Italian media is reporting, then the likely earliest date he’d be available is a match against Roma on August 27.

The injury is another blow for McKennie, who missed most of the second half of last season with a broken bone in his foot.

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Gianluca Busio is staying at Venezia after all

“There were offers and interest from other places but my heart is in Venice”

Gianluca Busio has signed a contract extension with Venezia through the 2024-25 season.

After Venezia was relegated to Serie B at the end of last season. the U.S. national team midfielder had been subject to interest from top-flight sides across Europe. However, Busio has now committed to stay put and try to guide Venezia back to Serie A.

“I am really happy to sign a new contract here and I would like to thank everyone who made this possible,” Busio told the club’s official website. “I really enjoyed my first year, the city is amazing and the fans are even better and they’re ready to support us in trying to make it back to Serie A.

“Especially after getting relegated last year, I wanted to be part of the team that will fight for promotion and I am really excited for this year. There were offers and interest from other places but my heart is in Venice and I really wanted to stay here and work for our goal and make the fans happy again.”

The 20-year-old acquitted himself well in Serie A last season, his first campaign in Europe after moving from Sporting Kansas City. Busio made 29 appearances in Serie A last season, starting 23 of those matches.

With Busio staying put, Venezia could now have five Americans on its roster for the upcoming season.

Busio is joined by Andrija Novakovich, Jack de Vries, Tanner Tessmann, and Patrick Leal.

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Source: Matthew Hoppe closing in on transfer to England

All signs are pointing towards the USMNT forward ending up at a Championship club

Matthew Hoppe is closing in on a move to England, as the United States national team attacker’s spell with La Liga side Mallorca looks set to end after just one season.

A source close to the situation tells Pro Soccer Wire that “interest has been growing” in Hoppe this summer and that a permanent move could be in the works for the 21-year old. Hoppe joined Mallorca, then recently promoted, in a move last summer from Schalke.

Hoppe’s first season in Spain did not go according to plan, however, as he was limited to just seven total appearances.

The source said that several Premier League and Championship clubs are in the mix to land Hoppe. It appears, however, that all signs are pointing towards Hoppe ending up at a Championship club.

Several MLS clubs had also reached out to Mallorca about a permanent move for Hoppe according to multiple sources. The sources said that Atlanta United, Nashville SC, Orlando City and San Jose had all made offers for the players.

Several of the MLS offers topped $3 million.

Hoppe has made six appearances with the USMNT, scoring one goal. He was an influential part of the United States squad that captured the CONCACAF Gold Cup last year. His most recent cap came in an October 2021 World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica.

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Yunus Musah, finally playing centrally at Valencia, is poised for breakthrough year

“It has to be my year,” the USMNT midfielder said.

Yunus Musah appears to be a locked-in starter at central midfield for the U.S. national team heading into this year’s World Cup but at the club level, Musah has barely featured for Valencia in the middle of the field.

Until now.

Under new Valencia head coach Gennaro Gattuso, Musah has been playing central midfield in the preseason after being used mostly out wide during his first two seasons with the La Liga club.

That change has Musah optimistic that 2022-23 could be a major breakthrough season for club and country.

“I like to play in the middle, it is a position where I have played since I was young,” Musah told Plaza Deportiva. “When I came up to the first team I played on the wing and I had to take advantage of the opportunity and do my best. At Valencia, they have not yet seen me in the middle.”

Asked if he feels central midfield is his best position, the 19-year-old responded: “I think so, I think I can show my quality there and I hope to.”

WATCH: La Liga is live on ESPN+!  Get ESPN+

Musah has made 61 total appearances for Valencia over the past two seasons, starting around half of those games. It’s an impressive track record for a player who is still a teenager, but his stellar displays for the USMNT this summer show he is still capable of more.

“It has to be my year,” Musah said. “I’ve been with the team for two years and I want to keep improving, I want to do very well in La Liga, help the team as much as possible and I know I have to improve in goals and assists. Being able to start in this team is something very important to me.”

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Max Allegri thinks Weston McKennie is the best American player in Europe

Perhaps Christian Pulisic would like a word?

Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has called Weston McKennie the best American player in Europe at present.

McKennie has been linked with a move away from Juventus this summer but earlier this month, Allegri reiterated his stance that the U.S. men’s national team star would be staying with the Serie A giants.

On Thursday, ahead of Juventus facing Chivas in Las Vegas in the first match of their preseason tour of the U.S., Allegri gave some major praise to the 23-year-old.

“McKennie is probably the best American player playing in Europe,” Allegri said at a press conference. “I think it’s very important for him to continue showing the high levels that he has at Juve.”

The USMNT midfielder was in the midst of a standout campaign last year when he suffered a broken metatarsal in his foot in February, an injury that kept him out for most of the rest of the season.

Even with the addition of Paul Pogba this summer, McKennie figures to be a key part of a Juventus squad looking to bounce back in 2022-23 after its first season without a trophy in 10 years.

“Our duty is to win this year, and after 10 years in a row last year was our first without trophies,” Allegri said. “We are obligated to win and we will know that it’s an important year for us.”

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Zack Steffen moves to Middlesbrough on loan and yes, it sounds like he’s the starter

The 27-year-old has moved down to the Championship as he looks to secure regular playing time

Zack Steffen has made his move in the race to be the U.S. national team starter at the World Cup, joining Middlesbrough on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Steffen joined City in 2019 from the Columbus Crew in a move worth a reported ÂŁ6 million. After a loan to Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany, Steffen served as the backup to Ederson for the past two seasons.

With regular playing time unlikely and a World Cup upcoming, Steffen has moved to the Championship side as he aims to secure a starting role for the first time since the 2019–20 season.

Will Steffen start at Boro?

It appears the Steffen has the inside track on Boro’s starting goalkeeper role. The club’s starter last season, Joe Lumley, has been sent on loan to Reading. Boro brought in Liam Roberts this offseason, but he appears unlikely to start right away after he played for fourth-tier Northampton Town last season.

TeessideLive, the regional website that covers the club referred to Steffen as “Boro’s new number one” while the club’s manager Chris Wilder also sounded like he’s ready to hand Steffen his starting role.

“I think it’s a big coup for us and so I’m delighted we’ve brought Zack in,” Wilder in Boro’s announcement of the move.

“We knew we had to improve the goalkeeping department. We brought in Liam Roberts and now we’re adding Zack who has just signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with Man City. Man City don’t hand out four-and-a-half-year contracts if they don’t think anything of them.

“Everyone knows his situation, he needed to play because of the World Cup. He had an agreement with Man City, but he could have easily stayed there and sat comfortably as their number two. He wanted to go out and he’s agreed to come here.”

Steffen is in a heated battle with Matt Turner for the USMNT starting role. Turner has just completed a move to Arsenal, where he figures to start the season as a backup to Aaron Ramsdale.

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Sergiño Dest says he’s staying at Barcelona

The USMNT right back is looking to put transfer rumors behind him

As rumors over his future continue to swirl, Sergiño Dest has insisted that he’s staying at Barcelona this season.

Dest has been linked with a move away after two years at Camp Nou, as Chelsea and Sevilla continue to be mentioned as potential destinations.

But the 21-year-old American has aimed to set the record straight, telling ESPN: “I’m happy at this club, and I will definitely stay here.”

Dest made 31 appearances in all competitions last season, as injuries hampered his progress at various points of the campaign.

When healthy, Dest was in and out of the lineup under Ronald Koeman and then Xavi after the Dutch manager was sacked midway through the season.

Though Barcelona continues to be linked with a move for Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta, the club’s decision to part ways with Dani Alves could be seen as a positive sign for Dest’s prospects of significant playing time in 2022-23.

Dest, who missed the USMNT’s four June matches because of injury, has said he is focused on staying healthy for club and country ahead of the current season and the World Cup in November.

“I had two injuries last year so I don’t want any injuries anymore,” Dest said. “I’m taking it very seriously; I want to play all season and not be injured. I just want to have a good preseason. I had to train a lot during the vacation because I was still injured.”

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Frank Lampard is backing ‘special’ Christian Pulisic to thrive at Chelsea

“Those basics of the speed and balance is not [something] everyday players have. He’s special like that” 

Christian Pulisic faces plenty of competition for playing time at Chelsea, which was underscored this week when Raheem Sterling joined the club from Manchester City.

As transfer rumors around the USMNT star continue to swirl, is there still room for Pulisic at Chelsea?

His former manager Frank Lampard thinks so. 

“I think Christian can still be a big player for Chelsea, of course, a really big player, but that’s absolutely a question for the club and him,” Lampard told Pro Soccer Wire.

The United States men’s national team star signed with the London club for an American record $73 million in 2019. While Pulisic became a vital Chelsea player in Lampard’s second year at the helm, he has occasionally struggled with injuries and has been a sporadic starter under Thomas Tuchel.

“Christian needs to play games,” Lampard said. “I know what he’s like, he wants to play all the time. He’s had some injuries, I think it’s sometimes held him back at different times in his career. So I just hope we get the right solution. I have a lot of respect for Chelsea. It’s a huge club in my life and career. So I hope we get the best solution for both.”

During the 2019-20 season under Lampard, Pulisic started 19 of 25 games he played and scored 11 goals in all competitions, which is still the best scoring return he’s had with Chelsea.

Lampard, who currently manages Everton, believes the 23-year-old can match and even surpass that return in coming seasons because of his rare talents.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Christian,” Lampard said. “I think I worked well with him and just tried to develop him and had a really good relationship with him. He’s got incredible talent. He’s a great boy. I found him really pleasurable to work with as well as a talent.

“He’s really fast and [has a quick] change in direction and it’s balanced. He’s still a young player. It feels like he’s been around a long time because he broke through so young. So there’s still a lot to come from Christian, but those basics of the speed and balance is not [something] everyday players have. He’s special like that.” 

Pulisic and Lampard are both in the United States for preseason tours. Pulisic and Chelsea play Club America Saturday in Las Vegas. Lampard, who helped Everton stay in the Premier League last season, begins preparation for his first full season in charge with a friendly against domestic rivals Arsenal on Saturday in Baltimore. 

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USMNT star Brenden Aaronson to join Leeds United

The USMNT’s Premier League contingent just got bigger.

Brenden Aaronson has expanded the American contingent at Leeds United, as the USMNT attacker will officially join Jesse Marsch’s side when the summer transfer window opens.

Aaronson’s transfer, a $30 million move from Red Bull Salzburg, has long been rumored, but appeared to be contingent on Leeds surviving in the Premier League. With that issue settled in dramatic fashion, Aaronson and both clubs could proceed with the transfer.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be here at this historic club, I am really excited for the new season,” Aaronson said. “I think it was around Christmas or January that I could see there was some interest and hearing about Leeds United being interested, it was a huge moment for me and I was super excited.”

Aaronson has played for Marsch previously, as the two overlapped at Salzburg for half a season after the young attacker made the jump to Europe from the Philadelphia Union. “The way Jesse wants to play, I learned a lot about the system and flourished under that system, so I am really excited to get back into it again,” said Aaronson.

Leeds director of football Victor Orta called Aaronson “the perfect player fit for us,” adding that the club feels “he will improve the squad and we are really happy, it is very difficult to find a young player of this level, especially with Champions League experience.”

Speaking to the club’s site, Marsch praised Aaronson’s work rate, and said that he feels the 21-year-old New Jersey native “adapts very well to tactical ideas and levels of play and his mentality is to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed.”

It’s a big summer for a move for Aaronson, who is very much in the reckoning for a place in the USMNT World Cup squad later this year. Per FBref, Aaronson played more minutes (654) than any other forward for Gregg Berhalter, scoring twice and adding an assist in 11 total appearances.

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