USMNT playmaker Malik Tillman joins PSV on one-year loan

The USMNT man is PSV’s newest No. 10

Malik Tillman saw the other U.S. men’s national team players pairing up in Europe, and couldn’t be left out of the mix.

PSV announced Thursday that the USMNT playmaker will join the club on a one-year loan, with the Dutch side holding a purchase clause to make the 21-year-old’s move from Bayern Munich permanent.

Tillman’s move to Eindhoven will see him partner up with U.S. striker Ricardo Pepi, who signed a five-year deal with PSV in July.

“We were looking for a player with scoring ability and who can also act in small spaces,” PSV director of football Earnie Stewart, who used to hold the equivalent role with U.S. Soccer, said in a club announcement. “He is used to a high level, so I am confident that he can adapt quickly.”

“I have a good relationship with Stewart, and [manager] Peter Bosz was also an important reason for me to come to Eindhoven,” added Tillman. “I like his playing style: a lot of attacking, not giving the opponent space, that suits me. My former teammate Mathijs de Ligt also praised [Bosz] and PSV. I find great conditions here in a beautiful city.”

PSV noted that Tillman will get the No. 10 shirt, an indicator that he is expected to be central to the club’s hopes in the Eredivisie this season.

Tillman may find himself back in the Champions League as well, as PSV thumped Sturm Graz 4-1 in the first leg of a third qualifying round tie. Should PSV get the job done in next week’s second leg, Tillman could find himself suiting up against some familiar faces later this month. PSV’s opponent in a final playoff to get to the group stage would be either Rangers (where the USMNT midfielder spent the 2022-23 season) or Swiss side Servette.

At Ibrox, Tillman made the PFA Scottish Premiership’s Team of the Season, scoring 10 goals in the process. One of those goals, at this very stage of the Champions League qualifying process, went on to inspire fans to try to mimic the soaring header that took Rangers past Union-Saint Gilloise in dramatic fashion.

Tillman and Pepi are the latest USMNT duo to form at a European club. Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson have been at Fulham for multiple seasons, while Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah have both moved to AC Milan this summer. Tim Weah signed with Juventus, where Weston McKennie appears set to stay after being heavily linked to an exit. Brenden Aaronson, meanwhile, moved on loan to Union Berlin, where he’ll play alongside Jordan Pefok.

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