Tag: transfers

Amid transfer interest, USMNT’s Sargent off the mark for Norwich City

Sargent showed why Norwich City is reportedly placing a $25 million valuation with his first goal of the Championship season

Josh Sargent isn’t letting the transfer rumors swirling around him distract from his job at Norwich City.

The U.S. men’s national team forward scored his first goal of the 2024-25 season, offering up a powerful finish in what became a 2-2 Championship draw with Blackburn.

Sargent also provided an assist as the Canaries took a second-half lead through Borja Sainz, but Norwich had to settle for a point after Yuki Ohashi’s late equalizer for the visitors.

With his side trailing 1-0 in the 65th minute, Sargent made his mark. Defender Callum Doyle’s clever pass found the USMNT man in a seam in Blackburn’s defense, but Sargent still had plenty to do.

Facing a somewhat tricky angle, Sargent could have cut the ball back, or tried to round his man to get to the endline for a cross. Instead, the 24-year-old called his own number, smashing a left-footed rocket past goalkeeper Aynsley Pears.

Sargent would do much of the heavy lifting as Norwich took the lead eight minutes later. The Missouri native won the ball at midfield, pushed into the Blackburn half, instigated a one-two to break through the visitors’ back line, and zipped a low cross in for Sainz to finish on the doorstep.

The good second half made up for a first half in which Sargent, by his own coach’s account, should have had a hat trick. However, Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup praised Sargent for brushing off the misses and getting the job done.

“We made some adjustments at halftime and came out way stronger in the second,” said Hoff Thorup. “Imagine [Sargent] going in at half-time knowing he could have scored a hat-trick? But he kept on going and showed the right attitude.”

Sargent will be hoping he can be just as prolific this season as he was last year. Despite missing a long spell due to ankle surgery, Sargent scored 16 times in 26 league appearances for the Canaries, at one point scoring 11 goals over a 14-game span.

That good form sparked some significant transfer interest in Sargent. GiveMeSport reported that FC Cincinnati offered as much as $20 million to bring the USMNT forward to MLS, only for Norwich to insist on a valuation over $25 million. Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that St. Louis City is also interested in Sargent’s signature.

Watch Sargent score his first goal of the season

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USMNT defender McKenzie completes transfer to Toulouse

The 25-year-old becomes the first America to ever play for the French club

Mark McKenzie has joined Ligue 1 side Toulouse on a transfer from Genk, the clubs announced on Friday.

McKenzie, 25, spent four seasons in Belgium with Genk, making 128 appearances.

The U.S. men’s national team defender told his new club’s website that he was ready to make the next step in his career.

“I am 25 years old, I have been playing in Belgium for several seasons now and I simply wanted to move up a level in my career,” the defender said.

“I think it was the right time. Above all, I wanted to make the right choice by joining a team with a real playing identity, a project that fits with my ambitions and a way of playing that matches my profile.”

The defender had been recently linked with a move to Germany, but will instead continue his career in the French top flight.

McKenzie will become the first American to ever play for Toulouse, which has finished mid-table in Ligue 1 the past two seasons.

“It’s always special to be the first to do something, no matter what it is,” he said. “It’s an honor to represent the United States so far. It adds a little pressure, yes, but I have to raise my own standards, lead the way and maybe inspire some in America.”

McKenzie has earned 13 caps for the USMNT. He was on the team’s roster for this summer’s Copa América but did not make an appearance at the tournament.

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Tessmann ‘out of our project’ at Venezia, says sporting director

The Serie A club appears fed up with the USMNT midfielder

Tanner Tessmann looks like he’ll need to find a new club as soon as possible.

After multiple failed transfers this summer, Venezia sporting director Filippo Antonelli has declared that the American midfielder is no longer part of the club’s project.

Tessmann was one of Venezia’s top performers last season, helping the club secure promotion to Serie A. But rather than staying put as the club moves to the Italian top flight, the 22-year-old has instead been looking for a way out.

The ex-FC Dallas midfielder has been close to joining both Inter and Fiorentina, but the transfers have each collapsed at the final hurdle. Reportedly, the exorbitant demands of Tessmamn’s agents has been at least partially to blame for both transfers falling through.

As Venezia gets ready for its first Serie A game on Sunday against Lazio, Antonelli told Il Gazzettino that the club isn’t able to count on a player who so clearly wants to leave.

“Tessmann is out of our project at Venezia,” Antonelli said.

“It has been a difficult week, try to understand me here. I am above all sorry for the player, as he put himself into this situation. At this moment, he is off the list of players at the disposal of coach Eusebio Di Francesco, but that is his decision and does not depend on us.

“He continues to train with the rest of the squad, but his mind at this moment is just not there. Our approach to Serie A has not changed, we prefer to have players who are strongly motivated to play with the Venezia jersey and fully committed to our project, otherwise it’s better to get someone else.”

The transfer window will be open for another two weeks, with La Stampa reporting this week that Torino, coached by former Venezia manager Paolo Vanoli, could be a possible destination.

If Tessmann isn’t able to find a new home by the end of August, Antonelli wouldn’t rule out the possibility of his reintegration into the team. But he made it clear that the Olympian’s attitude would have to change.

“We’ll see, anything is possible,” he said. “If the transfer window closes and Venezia is the only remaining option, then we’d have to evaluate what to do, but he would need to roll his sleeves up and get back with a completely different attitude.”

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USMNT goalkeeper Slonina joins Barnsley on loan from Chelsea

The 20-year-old will take in his third loan since joining Chelsea in 2022

Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina has joined Barnsley FC on loan for the 2024-25 season.

The League One club will not have a purchase option on the U.S. international.

Slonina, 20, spent last season on loan at KAS Eupen, making 34 appearances as the club was relegated from the Belgian top flight.

The Illinois native signed for Chelsea in 2022 from the Chicago Fire in a reported $10 million deal.

After finishing the 2022 MLS season with the Fire, Slonina spent a half season with Chelsea’s U-21 side before his move to Belgium last season.

Slonina is said to be highly rated at Chelsea, but it is unclear if he’ll have a chance to challenge for the starting role as the Blues continue to add more goalkeepers.

This week, Chelsea reportedly paid Genk up to €20 million to sign goalkeeper Mike Penders, with the Blues also signing Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal for €24m earlier in the summer.

Chelsea rotated between Djordje Petrovic and Robert Sánchez as its starting goalkeepers last season.

Slonina became the youngest USMNT goalkeeper ever when he started a January 2023 friendly against Serbia. He was on the team’s Olympic roster this summer, but didn’t see any action as he backed up Patrick Schulte.

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Wrexham signs club-record transfer on eve of League One debut

The club made a statement on the eve of its debut in League One

One day before its first game in League One, Wrexham made a statement by signing Ollie Rathbone from Rotherham United for a club-record fee.

The midfielder has spent the last two seasons in the Championship with Rotherham, which was relegated to League One at the end of last season.

Before leading Rotherham to promotion in 2022, Rathbone played nearly 200 games in League One with Rochdale and Rotherham.

Wrexham secured its second straight promotion last season by finishing second in League Two. The Red Dragons will kick off their League One campaign on Saturday against Wycombe Wanderers at Racecourse Ground.

“I’m delighted. I’m really excited to be here and to get going,” Rathbone, 27, told Wrexham’s website.

“To have back-to-back promotions, the club is obviously doing something very right from the outside looking in. There’s nowhere I’d rather be signing.

“I’m really glad the move has been completed. It’s going to be a long season, but I’m hopeful that we’ll have another successful season.”

Wrexham confirmed it had paid a club-record fee for Rathbone, but did not disclose the amount. The club set its previous record when it paid $383,000 to sign Ollie Palmer from Wimbledon in January 2022.

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AC Milan boss Fonseca puts Musah transfer rumors to rest

The midfielder was strongly linked with a move to Lyon last week

Yunus Musah’s name has been involved in transfer rumors of late, but AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca is adamant that the American is going nowhere.

Last week, Foot Mercato reported that Lyon was in talks with Milan over a transfer for the midfielder, who was valued at €22 million.

Musah had an up-and-down debut campaign with Milan last term, shifting in and out of the lineup while playing a variety of positions.

Stefano Pioli left his position as Milan head coach at the end of the season, with Fonseca coming in from Lille as his replacement.

Fonseca has led Milan to wins over Manchester City and Real Madrid to kick off the team’s U.S. tour. After Musah played 25 minutes in Wednesday’s win over Madrid in Chicago, Fonseca made it clear that he envisions the 21-year-old staying for his sophomore campaign with Milan.

“I’m 200% sure he’s the kind of player for our game. He showed [against Real Madrid] in 30 minutes, it was amazing with just a few days of working with us,” Fonseca said to Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m very confident with him. I believe he can be very important for our team. But of course, he must improve many things, but my opinion? He has the right characteristics to play in this position in our game.”

Milan will close out its tour of the U.S. with a game against Barcelona in Baltimore on Tuesday.

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USMNT left back Wiley joins Chelsea from Atlanta United

The 19-year-old is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan this season

Atlanta United has confirmed the transfer of left back Caleb Wiley to Premier League power Chelsea.

The Blues paid a reported £8.5 million ($11m) fee for the 19-year-old, who is expected to join Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.

Wiley will join up with Chelsea following his participation in the Olympics with the United States.

“Caleb epitomizes the pathway that we envisioned when we started this club,” Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club release.

“Born and raised in Atlanta, he joined our Academy at 11 years old, played for ATL UTD 2 and went on to earn every step in his path up to signing as a Homegrown. Over that time, he debuted for the U.S. men’s national team and was chosen to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Now he can continue his career at a top club in Europe. We wish Caleb the best in this next challenge of his career and look forward to following his journey.”

Wiley made his pro debut for Atlanta United 2 in 2020 when he was just 15 years old, and made the jump to the first team as a regular in 2022.

Overall, Wiley made 85 appearances for Atlanta’s first team in all competitions, recording six goals and nine assists.

Wiley has earned two caps for the USMNT so far, making his debut in April 2023. He has also represented the U.S. at the U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

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USMNT midfielder Tessmann’s move to Inter reportedly collapses

The Venezia midfielder won’t be heading to the San Siro after all

Tanner Tessmann’s transfer to Inter appears to be dead.

The Venezia midfielder has seen his transfer to the Serie A champion collapse, per a report in Tuttosport.

Various reports had suggested that a deal was imminent, but Tessmann’s salary demands, his agents’ fee demands, as well as a lack of an agreement on a loan destination have all reportedly contributed to the move falling apart.

Inter had planned on signing Tessmann and then loaning him abroad for a season. At a press conference on Friday, Venezia sporting director Filippo Antonelli said that the 22-year-old’s move was in danger of falling through due to difficulty nailing down a loan destination

“[The transfer] was closed with the club [Inter]. We wanted to keep the player on loan, but he wants to go elsewhere,” Antonelli said.

“Inter have been looking for a solution but they still haven’t identified which club he could join on loan. The deal may collapse because of this.”

Pro Soccer Wire reported last week that Everton and Feyenoord made last-ditch offers for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder, who has also generated interest from other teams in Italy.

“Torino didn’t call me personally,” Antonelli said. “Como did call me and Fiorentina made an inquiry. His agents say that there are many foreign clubs interested, but they haven’t yet called me.”

Playing alongside fellow American midfielder Gianluca Busio, Tessmann was vital for Venezia last season as the club secured promotion to Serie A by winning the Serie B promotion playoff.

Venezia has allowed both Busio and Tessmann to join up with the USMNT for the Olympics, which begin next week. Antonelli said that in contrast to Tessmann, he was expecting Busio to stay with the club .

“It is certainly a showcase for them,” Antonelli said of the Olympics. “We have taken a step towards the boys, who are very attached to the national team. We have granted this opportunity.

“Tessmann will most likely leave, Busio will most likely stay. He is attached to us, he will still be a protagonist, we think he can be very important. He has grown a lot, perhaps more than Tessmann, he is the one who has grown the most.”

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Source: Feyenoord and Everton make last-ditch effort to land USMNT midfielder Tessmann

The chase for the USMNT midfielder isn’t over yet

Tanner Tessmann’s presumed move to Inter may not be fully sealed after all.

A source close to the situation has told Pro Soccer Wire that the Venezia midfielder has recently seen offers come in from Premier League side Everton as well as Dutch power Feyenoord.

Inter still very well could land Tessmann, with reports this week indicating that a deal was close to being done. The Serie A champion would reportedly plan on signing Tessmann and then loaning him abroad for a season.

The source said that Inter remains heavily involved but that the landing spot for the U.S. men’s national team midfielder “is still open.”

Parma also remains in the mix to land Tessmann, a 22-year-old central midfielder who played 3,146 minutes (37 appearances) last year for Venezia in Serie B.

Tessmann tallied six goals and three assists in league play, adding a goal in the Serie B playoff semifinal that helped Venezia earn promotion to Italy’s top flight.

According to the source, Venezia is currently looking for a transfer fee between €7-8 million for the Alabama native.

Twice capped by the USMNT, Tessmann was announced this week as part of the roster for the Olympic team that will play in the Paris games starting this month.

At a Men In Blazers event in New York this week, Tessmann stayed mum when asked on stage about the rumors linking him to Inter.

“There’s no news that I can share today,” he said. “Just trying to focus on the Olympics, honestly.”

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Dest completes PSV move after all, leaving Barcelona on free transfer

Dest’s much-wanted move just required a little patience, as the USMNT defender joins PSV on a four-year deal

Sergiño Dest and PSV just learned about the values of patience.

The U.S. men’s national team fullback has joined the Dutch champions on a free transfer, with Barcelona letting the 23-year-old walk now rather than letting him leave as a free agent next year.

Barça will, however, receive an unspecified percentage of any transfer fee PSV might get for Dest — who signed a four-year deal on Saturday — down the road.

“To start with, PSV believes in me and I am greatly appreciated here,” said Dest in a club release announcing the deal. “I have come to know the club as incredibly warm, like I have never experienced anywhere else. These are important aspects for someone in my situation and give me confidence that I can rehabilitate well here.”

Dest tore his ACL in late April while on loan with PSV, with the injury initially appearing to complicate plans to sign him. The club was said to have a €10 million transfer clause in Dest’s loan contract, but — likely over the fact that he’d be out for the first half of this coming season — reportedly told Barcelona that the price was too high.

Nonetheless, PSV managed to complete a deal with Barça that will get the USMNT right back into a good club situation going forward.

“We had a good discussion about it internally, but Sergiño convinced us so much last season that we absolutely did not want to pass up the opportunity to take over from him permanently,” said PSV director of football Earnie Stewart. “He has so many qualities. The new situation does not change that.”

Dest played in 37 competitive matches for PSV, helping the club win its 25th Eredivisie title and advance to the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in nine years.

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