Austin FC star Sebastián Driussi has said he rejected the chance to move to the Premier League in favor of signing a new contract with the MLS side.
Amid interest from abroad, Driussi signed a extension on Tuesday with Austin FC through the 2025 season with an option for 2026.
The Argentine playmaker turned in an outstanding 2022 campaign, scoring 22 goals and adding seven assists as Austin FC reached the Western Conference final.
Driussi was on a base salary of $2.2 million in 2022, per MLS players’ union figures, which was good for the 25th highest in the league. He will now reportedly be among the top earners in MLS.
At a press conference to announce his new deal, the 27-year-old admitted he had options in England — with Leeds strongly linked prior to the January transfer window closing.
“As you know, there was a very important offer from a club in England,” he said. “But, well, my head was always in Austin.”
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— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 14, 2023
“There was plenty of interest for Sebastián around the world in many different leagues,” head coach Josh Wolff added.
“I think he was quite honest with us [that] this is where he wanted to be. Ownership recognized that; Anthony Precourt made it a real emphasis in the offseason to get this contract done and get the commitment from the club to him but also Sebastián’s commitment to us.
“In the end, it’s a decision that Sebastián has and he has full control of that. So I think his intentions were quite clear to us; his ambitions are with Austin FC. What the future holds beyond Austin FC, when that happens, if it ever happens? We will see.”