Category: Transfers

The Cavan Sullivan hype train will be tough to slow down

The “best 14-year-old in the world” is set for a move to Manchester City

Before saying anything else about Cavan Sullivan, it’s probably worth emphasizing that, yes, he is 14 years old.

The world of soccer is filled with previously hyped-up 14-year-olds who never amounted to anything. Freddy Adu is the archetype here but let’s not forget he earned 17 senior national team caps, played well over 100 MLS games, and represented European powers like Benfica and Monaco.

He didn’t live up to the hype, obviously, but Adu went much farther than many other 14-year-old future Pelés.

But Sullivan, who is per multiple reports set to sign with Manchester City, does appear to be more can’t-miss than the average player his age.

Taylor Twellman has claimed that Man City scouts consider the U.S. under-15 attacker the best 14-year-old in the world, which is some heady stuff to hear for an American prospect. It also ensures the attention on Sullivan is only set to increase.

Fair or unfair (and it’s probably the latter), Sullivan captures the imagination right now because he seems to represent the next hope for American fans to finally see one of their own among the world’s best men’s players.

With apologies to the current crop of USMNT stars, there are no future Ballon d’Or candidates among them. As long as the country continues to lack that player everyone hoped Adu would become 20 years ago, the next 14-year-old prodigy will always have a little extra riding on their development.

Sullivan, of course, isn’t doing much on the field to tamp down the excitement. In his first pro game last weekend, he delivered the game-winning assist for Philadelphia Union II in MLS Next Pro.

“Those that maybe haven’t learned yet, a young Cavan Sullivan has the talent and ability to become, I’ll just say a household name and is doing really big things,” Union head coach Jim Curtin said last year.

Curtin appears as though he’ll have one of the first cracks to help shape Sullivan at the pro level. The teenager won’t be eligible for Man City until he’s 18, and The Athletic reports that he is set to sign the richest Homegrown Player contract in MLS history with the Union in the meantime.

Though the agreement comes with the stipulation that Sullivan could be sent to a City Football Group side in Europe “if his development surpasses MLS before his 18th birthday,” the possibility of Sullivan actually playing for his hometown team is strong.

That didn’t appear to be the case when early reports emerged of City’s interest. This appears to be a win-win for all parties, as Sullivan has the chance to play at home for a few more years, presumably joining his older brother Quinn on the first team eventually. The Union will get to see one of their brightest prospects play for them, and reap the financial benefits from a sale and future a sell-on percentage.

And if Sullivan is as good as they say he is — a big if, obviously — then Man City could have a future first-team contributor. That would put Sullivan in a rarified space that few American players have ever reached.

It’s a long way away, but it’s possible. And for a clamoring American fan base, that possibility is intoxicating.

[lawrence-related id=55711,53427,49775]

Giroud reportedly set for LAFC move this summer

Giroud could well be linking up with France teammate Hugo Lloris in the near future

Olivier Giroud is set to be the latest big name to move from Europe to MLS.

Per The Athletic, the AC Milan striker is in the final stages of contract talks with Los Angeles FC over a summer transfer that would come once his contract with the Rossoneri expires.

Giroud, 37, would join fellow France veteran Hugo Lloris on LAFC’s roster should the move go through. The MLS summer transfer window opens on July 18, less than a week after the end of Euro 2024.

With 56 goals in 130 caps, Giroud — France’s all-time leading scorer on the men’s side — is still a pivotal player for les Bleus, and barring injury is expected to play in that tournament.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that LAFC made a formal offer in recent days, with both sides nearing an agreement.

Giroud has had a strong season in Milan, leading the line as Stefano Pioli’s first-choice striker. In 36 total appearances this season, Giroud has a team-leading 14 goals, while his nine assists are third-best on the squad.

Should the move come off, Giroud will give LAFC an out-and-out No. 9 presence that the club has lacked since Cristian “Chicho” Arango’s departure after the 2022 season. Last year, Carlos Vela largely functioned as a false No. 9; since the Mexican forward’s departure this winter, that role has gone to midfielder Mateusz Bogusz.

The club has certainly worked to keep the door open for a signing in line with Giroud, with 2023 MLS Golden Boot winner Dénis Bouanga currently LAFC’s only Designated Player. Steve Cherundolo’s side has had a history with signing prominent, aging European stars, with Gareth Bale playing a critical role in the club’s 2022 MLS Cup triumph.

[lawrence-related id=30720,30297,11077]

Turner open to ‘move backwards’ if Nottingham Forest stint doesn’t work out

Could the USMNT goalkeeper be on the move yet again?

Matt Turner has admitted he won’t hesitate to seek out another club if things don’t work out for him at Nottingham Forest.

After one year as Arsenal’s backup goalkeeper, Turner moved on to Forest last summer and began the season as the starter. But after being benched in the fall, only to regain his place, Turner was again replaced in the winter transfer window after Forest signed Matz Sels from Strasbourg.

Sels has become the full-time starter at Forest, with Turner only playing in cup matches since the Belgian’s arrival.

Ahead of the U.S. national team’s Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Jamaica, Turner spoke with USMNT legend Tim Howard about his place on head coach Gregg Berhalter’s depth chart.

“Obviously in a perfect world, in Gregg’s mind, I’m playing week-in, week-out, I’m in good form all the time, and then I’m playing well for the national team all the time. Unfortunately that’s not the reality right now,” Turner told the Daily Mail.

“But I’ve grown a lot as a goalkeeper in this last year — and also as a person… maybe I don’t have the greatest playing experience resume, but as like a life experience resume, I think I top almost any professional footballer in the world.”

Turner added: “Gregg understands the situation… we’ll sort out the club situation on the other side. I’ve had some good conversations with Nuno [Espírito Santo, Forest head coach] and they like what they see from me.”

After spending his first season in England as Arsenal’s backup, Turner said he went to the club’s leadership to inquire about his long-term status with the team.

Unable to receive assurances over a shot at playing, Turner sought a move away from north London. The 29-year-old admitted that he may be forced to have a similar conversation with Forest leadership.

“I’m not in the business of wasting time,” he said. “If it doesn’t work out for me here, then I can always move backwards. But when the opportunity presented itself… I had to jump at it.”

[lawrence-related id=47240,43294,53458]

OL Reign’s Tullis-Joyce joins Manchester United in women’s record transfer for goalkeeper

A popular player is leaving Seattle for the WSL

Deadline day for the Women’s Super League saw a world record transfer for a goalkeeper in women’s soccer.

Phallon Tullis-Joyce has joined Manchester United, departing OL Reign in a deal reported by Sounder at Heart to be worth nearly $160,000.

“Today has been pure excitement for me,” said Tullis-Joyce in a press release from her new club. “Manchester United is such an historic club, that has already done so much in the women’s game. I’m so honored to get this opportunity.”

“Phallon joins us at an exciting time for Manchester United Women, as we embark on our first European season,” added manager Marc Skinner. “We are delighted to welcome Phallon to our family.”

The transfer fee and various add-ons surpass the financial side of Kailen Sheridan’s December 2021 move from NJ/NY Gotham FC to the San Diego Wave, which is believed to be the previous global record for a goalkeeper in women’s soccer. That deal saw the Wave put up $130,000 in allocation money, along with a guarantee that the then-expansion club would not select any players from Gotham in that year’s expansion draft.

With the Red Devils, Tullis-Joyce may have a battle on her hands. England No. 1 Mary Earps was the subject of a huge amount of transfer speculation following the World Cup, but a mooted move to Arsenal was not completed before the WSL’s deadline closed late on Thursday.

A blow for OL Reign on and off the field

Tullis-Joyce finishes her three years in Seattle with 47 appearances in all competitions, and holds the club record for regular-season shutouts (13). The 26-year-old was ever-present in goal as the Reign won the 2022 NWSL Shield.

Tullis-Joyce became a fan favorite in Seattle, particularly through a series of comedic videos on her second love, marine biology. Tullis-Joyce majored in the topic during her time at the University of Miami.

“Phallon is someone who we value and has achieved quite a lot both on and off field during her time here,” Reign GM Lesle Gallimore said in a club statement. “We worked with Phallon and Manchester United to make sure all parties were satisfied with the move and once we got to an agreement, everything moved pretty quickly. We will be forever grateful for Phallon’s achievements with OL Reign and wish her all the best in the WSL.”

In the meantime, it appears that the Reign have been preparing for Tullis-Joyce’s departure in recent games. Claudia Dickey and Laurel Ivory have both appeared in recent games, with Ivory most recently getting the nod in the team’s Challenge Cup semifinal loss to Racing Louisville.

[lawrence-related id=8847,28253,27651]

Another much-hyped Mexico prospect leaves Europe to join Tigres

Marcelo Flores was a highly touted prospect at Arsenal, but has now headed to Liga MX

The hype around Marcelo Flores at this time last year was growing exponentially.

A rising star in Arsenal’s academy, Flores earned the first of his three senior caps with Mexico at age 18. He then made the bench for the Gunners senior team for the first time in April 2022.

After fully committing his international future to Mexico over Canada and England, there was even talk of Flores making a late bid for a World Cup roster spot with El Tri.

But following a difficult loan spell with Spanish second division side Real Oviedo last season, Flores is following a path that other much-hyped Mexican prospects have traveled recently.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old’s transfer from Arsenal to Tigres was confirmed. The Evening Standard reported that the fee was £2 million.

Flores marks the third young Mexican to leave Europe and sign with Tigres just this year.

Diego Lainez, who like Flores has at times over the years been considered a future superstar, joined Tigres on loan in January. He was followed by Eugenio Pizzuto, who spent time with Lille and Braga before returning home to Mexico this summer.

All three players were 22 or younger when making the move to Tigres.

Amid some criticism of the transfer, Tigres manager Robert Siboldi defended Flores by insisting that the move was driven by the desire for playing time, not money.

Siboldi added that he would not consider the transfer to be a setback for Flores.

“He comes to earn his place, he is very motivated and I am very happy [to sign] a young man with experience, with training from other places that is supposed to be more demanding,” Siboldi told a press conference.

“Why don’t we see everything that can arise? A player comes to Mexico because something has happened, they haven’t had the minutes they wanted. They have the desire to play above the economic aspect.

“They can be at Real Madrid, at Manchester United and not play … it doesn’t mean that if they come to Tigres, Rayados or any team from Mexico that it’s a setback.”

[lawrence-related id=1675,23331,21919]

Wrexham signs ex-Premier League striker Fletcher as Mullin remains out

Fletcher brings a ton of Premier League experience to the League Two side

Wrexham has signed longtime Premier League striker Steven Fletcher on a free transfer.

Fletcher joins after scoring 10 goals in 39 games last season with Dundee United in his native Scotland.

The 36-year-old has made nearly 700 career appearances, representing Burnley, Wolves and Sunderland across several Premier League seasons. He has also earned 39 caps for Scotland.

“Hopefully I can bring a lot of experience. I’m 36, I’m still fit and still raring to go,” Fletcher told Wrexham’s website.

“One of the biggest selling points was the ambition of the club, and if I can help with that then great.

“I don’t think you can not see what has been happening at Wrexham — it’s been a great experience for the fans, players and owners so hopefully we can continue that.”

Fletcher’s words echo those of James McClean, his former teammate at Sunderland and Stoke, who signed with Wrexham last month and said that the club’s growing profile after actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the team was a major selling point.

Following the club’s promotion last season, Wrexham is off to an uneven start to life in League Two. The club sits 13th out of 24 teams and has both the most goals scored (15) and conceded (14) in the league.

Wrexham has managed that high goal total despite the continued absence of star forward Paul Mullin, who suffered a punctured lung against Manchester United during the club’s preseason tour of the United States.

[lawrence-related id=24768,23977,23620]

U.S. U-20 midfielder Clark to join Minnesota United from RB Leipzig

The midfielder departs RB Leipzig without making an appearance

Minnesota United has announced the signing of midfielder Caden Clark from RB Leipzig.

Clark has signed a two-year contract with the MLS club, which he’ll join in January after completing a half-season loan with Danish second-tier side Vendsyssel FF.

“Caden Clark is a talented, young footballer who is excited to be joining our club,” head coach Adrian Heath said of the 20-year-old.

“He’s a Minnesota kid, which is another big plus for us, he’s coming home. We know what he is capable of and we’ve seen his talent here in Major League Soccer. We are really thrilled to get him beginning next season and I know our fans will be excited as well.”

Clark made his professional breakthrough with the New York Red Bulls in 2020, emerging as one of American soccer’s brightest prospects and earning a transfer to the Red Bulls’ sister club RB Leipzig in 2021.

The Minnesota native went on consecutive loans back to the Red Bulls, first for the second half of the 2021 season and then for the entirety of the 2022 season. Clark had a difficult 2022 campaign back in MLS, as injuries and form limited him to just 16 total appearances.

Clark returned to RB Leipzig for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, but didn’t see the field despite making the team’s matchday roster several times. The midfielder departs the Bundesliga club without making an appearance.

At the international level, Clark has earned 11 caps with the U.S. U-20 side. He was a part of the team that won the 2022 U-20 CONCACAF Championship, but did not make the roster for the 2023 U-20 World Cup.

[lawrence-related id=16504,27344,27316]

Saudi League summer transfer window 2023: All the latest news and signings

Tracking all of the biggest moves to Saudi Arabia right here

The Saudi Pro League’s spending spree has upended the entire 2023 summer transfer window.

With multiple Saudi clubs putting together massive offers, it looks like teams throughout the league will look to compete with Al Nassr, who sparked a new era in Saudi Arabia by signing Cristiano Ronaldo this winter.

The spending has been supercharged after the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, took over four of the country’s biggest teams this summer.

We’ll be tracking the biggest names that move to Saudi Arabia right here.

Palhinha flies to Munich, has medical, watches Bayern move disintegrate

Palhinha has become the transfer deadline day’s tragic figure

João Palhinha has become the transfer deadline day’s tragic figure, as his move from Fulham to Bayern Munich collapsed as he watched on helplessly from Bayern’s training facility.

Fulham had allowed the Portuguese midfielder to fly to Munich after reportedly agreeing to a fee in the region of €65 million with the German champions.

Though Palhinha arrived in Munich, the transfer was not completely sealed. Fulham was still reportedly searching for the 28-year-old’s replacement, which was a necessity for the Premier League club to allow one of its key players to depart.

Though the likes of Scott McTominay and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg were linked to the Cottagers, no deal went through prior to the 6 p.m. transfer deadline in Germany.

And so Palhinha — having already completed a medical and even taken photos with a Bayern shirt — saw his deadline-day move collapse in heartbreaking fashion.

It was a frustrating conclusion to a fruitless deadline day for Bayern, which also saw rumored moves for Armel Bella-Kotchap, Trevoh Chalobah and João Cancelo fall through.

But it was Palhinha’s collapsed deal which will hurt the most, as the Portugal international joins Peter Odemwingie in the annals of failed deadline-day transfers.

Americans Abroad transfer deadline day: Tracking all the moves

Transfer deadline day in (most of) Europe has arrived, with plenty of Americans expected to be on the move

Transfer deadline day in (most of) Europe has arrived, and there are plenty of Americans expected to be on the move.

It has already been a major summer of moves for Americans, with a significant portion of the U.S. men’s national team’s core finding new homes.

But there is still time for more transfers and loans before the window closes on Friday evening, as several American players both and home and abroad look for new homes.

We’ll be tracking all of the movement here.