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A breakdown of the 2003 age group

Published

4 years ago

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In the last two segments of this series we took at look at the 2001 and 2002 age groups. Today we are going to take a look at the 2003 age group. This age group will comprise the core of the 2023 u20 World Cup cycle where they will be looking to not only make a deep run in the tournament, but go on and win the entire thing. The 2003 age group is potentially the best age group that the United States has produced and is on track to be even better than the 2000’s who produced players such as Josh Sargent, Timothy Weah, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Richie Ledezma, Alex Mendez, Chris Gloster, and more. In this article we will take a look at the cycle’s strengths and weaknesses, highlight the top players in this age group, take a look at the depth chart for the 2003 age group, and rank the top 25 players in the age group.

Strengths

The 2003’s are the creme de la creme for youth national team age groups. Every single position does not have just one good player but at least two or three players who will have very good professional careers, some positions are even four or five players deep. The age group has numerous players with the ability to go overseas and play in the top European leagues and the players that are in the second or third string of the depth chart even have the potential to become stars in MLS and a few may actually develop into European level players. Players that are in the top 15 of this age group would likely be top four or five players in other age groups, this age group is that talented. A few players to particularly pay attention to in this cycle are Moses Nyeman, Jonathan Gomez, Ricardo Pepi, Daniel Leyva, and Elton Chifamba but there are other prospects that have some serious promise as well which will be highlighted later on.

The attack for this age group in particular is notable compared to other cycles. The strikers have four players will special talent in Ricardo Pepi, Patrick Weah, Sam Sarver, and Matthew Roou and are only matched by the depth of the 2000 cycle. The wingers are even deeper than the forwards with Dante Sealy, Chris Garcia, Fabrizio Bernal, Kevin Paredes, Patrick Bohui, Cade Cowell, and Tyler Freemann. Cade Cowell has already made his Major League Soccer debut which would make him a guaranteed starter for most age groups and is not even a top five winger for this age group. When the cycle is at full-strength, they will be impossible to keep out of the back of the net.

The midfielder also have extraordinary depth compared to other youth national team age groups. The attacking midfielders are also very deep with Moses Nyeman, Jonathan Perez (who is also an amazing winger), Paxten Aaronson (who may end up being even better than his older brother and USMNT player, Brendan Aaronson), and Selmir Micsic. The center midfielders are stacked with Elton Chifamba, Caden Clark, Javier Casas, and Colby Quinones while the defensive midfielders are equally deep with Daniel Leyva, Tarun Karumanchi, Jack McGlynn, and Sota Kitahara.

The depth does not fall at all with the defenders who are also loaded with talent. The fullback strength for this age group is easily the best of any youth national team age group with Jonzathan Gomez, Mauricio Cuevas, Anthony Sorenson, Noah Hall, Michael Halliday, and Jacob Greene. The center backs are the one spot that does not have notable depth yet but yet again has more potential players than any other age group with Casey Walls, Justin Che, Dante Huckaby, Eric Kizner, Marcus Fernakus, Jalen Neal, Jalen Calloway, Israel Carrillo, and Niklas Dossmann.

What is truly remarkable about the age group is that there is only one foreign based player relevent in the cycle in Niklas Dossmann who is already pretty low in the center back depth chart. There are currently no other players in Europe that have emerged in this age group which means that over the next three years there will be even more players with high ceilings that will break out and stake their place in the 2003 player pool. You can typically bet on one or two foreign based players to break into a youth national team age group’s depth chart.

Of the u20 eligible age groups, the 2003’s are the best age group that the United States has and it is not even close. What matters now is these players breaking into their first teams and getting minutes in Major League Soccer or heading abroad to Europe and finding minutes in a major European league. When you take a look at the 2003 age group and add in the best 2004 and 2005 players then you are looking at a team that has a very realistic shot at winning the 2023 u20 World Cup and should be disappointed if the team does not reach at least the semifinal. The 2023 u20 cycle at full strength would likely beat the five previous u20 cycles (three of them who made quarterfinal runs in 2015, 2017, and 2019) by two or three goals at least. The 2003 age group went undefeated during their u16 cycle during 2018 and 2019 with a record of 8-3-0 (w-d-l) and is showing no signs of slowing down from there. Nothing is a guarantee for youth players, but USMNT fans should be very excited about the potential of this age group long term as they will be relevant in USMNT rosters all the way until the 2034 World Cup.

Weakness

For such a strong age group, there is a weak spot for the 2003’s and that is the goalkeepers. The United States has historically produced amazing goalkeepers but this age group is the outlier in a negative way for the post millennium age groups. Eliot Jones, Anthony Ramos, and Gavin Krenecki are the three best goalkeepers in this age group but it is very likely that none of the three will be relevant for 2023 u20 cycle or the USMNT long term. The best goalkeeper that has played in a 2003 youth national team game has actually been Gabriel Slonina who is born in 2004 who is a very deep goalkeeper age group. When your only weak spot is in a position that has historically been the USMNT’s strength and is very deep in other age groups then the lack of depth in this age group is something fans should not be worried about.

Players to watch in the 2003 age group

Moses Nyeman

Moses Nyeman has long been regarded by many as the best prospect in the 2003 age group. Moses is a Liberian born player who is currently in the process of getting his American citizenship while currently playing for DC United in the MLS and Loundon United in the USL. Moses is an attacking midfielder who is fast, strong for his size, an elite passer, an elite dribbler, has a nose for goal, has an elite soccer IQ, and also is very adept defensively. Moses is a player who has a ceiling of being a true star in Europe and a floor of being a very good player in Europe.

The only weak part of Nyeman’s game is his size. Moses currently 5’5 135lbs so he is likely going to be the smallest player on the field in every game he plays in. Moses will be a late bloomer as DC United will be tentative of playing Nyeman and risking an injury until he ads more muscle to his frame. Even as a late bloomer fans should not cool down on Moses as a prospect, this kid could very well be the solution to the USMNT’s long problem at the 10 position. Realistically, even though Nyeman is undersized, he is ready for first team action with DC United as he will very quickly prove to be too good for the USL as he dissects opposition defenses every single game. Expect Moses to be a regular in the DC United squad by the end of the 2020 MLS season regardless of how short it may be due to COVID-19. Moses will take longer to develop and won’t be a USMNT player by 2022 but this kid is on track to be one of the first names on the USMNT team sheet for a very long time.

Jonathan Gomez

Jonathan Gomez is a player who many consider to be the USMNT’s best left back prospect along with Kobe Hernandez-Foster. Jonathan Gomez is another superstar in the making that has been developed by the FC Dallas academy. Gomez has every tool that you could dream about having in a left back. He is quick, smart, an elite 1v1 defender, an amazing dribbler, can play a pin point cross, and is the best attacking fullback in the youth national team system. The only difference between Gomez and Kobe Hernandez-Foster is that Kobe is a bit better of a defender and more athletic while Gomez is a better attacker and cleaner on the ball.

Jonathan Gomez has recently left the FC Dallas academy and has signed with Louisville City FC in the USL Championship where he will be playing under former u17 national team coach, John Hackworth. Gomez was punished by FC Dallas for making his intentions known that he was going to leave for Europe when he turns 18 and was played at the u17 level where he is age eligible but far above the level of play. As a result of that Gomez decided to leave his childhood club and sign for Louisville City where he will play at a higher level for the next year and a half then he would have at North Texas SC who is in the USL League One. FC Dallas is playing checkers while Jonathan Gomez is playing chess.

European clubs are hot on Jonathan’s trail as he will be a first team ready player when he turns 18 in 2021 and will instantly improve any Bundesliga side that he is in. Jonathan Gomez is not likely to be a USMNT player for the 2022 World Cup cycle as it will likely take him until 2022 to break through in Europe but he constant call up in the 2026, 2030 and 2034 World Cup cycle rosters. Jonathan Gomez and Kobe Hernandez-Foster should give USMNT a sense of relief as we finally have some true left back talent in the pipeline.

Ricardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi burst onto the youth national team scene in 2018 when he scored an absurd 19 goals in 8 games in the Development Academy. Ricardo Pepi is a tall, lanky striker from FC Dallas with a goal scoring ability rarely seen in prospects worldwide. Ricardo Pepi was a locked in starter at striker for the 2019 u17 World Cup cycle while playing a year up. It does not matter what level Pepi is playing in, he is going to find a way to score goals if his team can get him the ball. Pepi is fast, strong, makes intelligent runs off of the ball, and is a lethal finisher within 30-yards of the net. My favorite quality of Ricardo Pepi’s is his work rate. Pepi will be one of the hardest workers that you see in a game whenever he is on the field and has routinely been lauded by coaches and teammates for his work rate over the last three years.

Ricardo Pepi has the second highest ceiling in the USMNT striker pool after Josh Sargent. Pepi will be a key player for the 2021 u20 World Cup cycle and should he find MLS success in the next two years could potentially break into the USMNT who’s striker depth is very thin while there are very few quality forwards in good form. Pepi turns 18 in January next year and will likely have clubs be bidding for his services the day he turns 18 and could very well be playing in Europe in the later half of 2021 as FC Dallas have the striker depth to be able to sell Pepi and still stay afloat. Ricardo Pepi will be playing in the MLS this year backing up Zdeněk Ondrášek (also known as Cobra) and could very well win the starting position for FC Dallas if he can score goals at the same rate that he has in the USL, DA, and youth national teams.

Daniel Leyva

Daniel Leyva was the other 2003 born player to have a major impact in the 2019 u17 World Cup cycle while playing up a year. Danny is a defensive midfielder at the Seattle Sounders and while he may not be the most exciting player, can control the entire flow of the game with the ball at his feet. Danny was a consistent call up for the u16 youth national team in 2018 but really burst onto the scene after a very successful preseason with the Seattle Sounders. Leyva was brought along to the Sounders preseason training camp with nine other academy players and was the only academy player to remain with the team for the last half of the preseason and was quickly signed to a homegrown contract by the Sounders.

Danny is a extremely intelligent defensive midfielder with a large passing range, veteran level composure, and the natural defensive instincts needed to succeed as a defensive midfielder at the highest level. When on his game, Danny can take control of a game no matter what level he is playing at including against full-grown men at the MLS level. Danny’s main weakness is a lack of athleticism which was exposed at the recent u17 World Cup. Danny is not the quickest player, or is even quick at all. To succeed, Danny needs to be paired with a center mid who can cover a lot of ground in a game (like Elton Chifamba… hint hint) while Danny stays central, puts out fires, and pulls the strings. When Danny was paired with Adam Saldana at the u17 World Cup it quickly showed that you need to have a more athletic midfielder next to him or your team will get overrun quickly. Luckily for Danny, the USMNT has numerous young players like that in Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Paxton Pomykal, and more.

Elton Chifamba

Imagine a combination of Tyler Adams and Darlington Nagbe, that is how you can describe Elton Chifamba. Elton is a athletic midfielder who plays in the Columbus Crew academy. Elton has a great passing range, has a high soccer IQ, can put out fires anywhere on the field, and is press resistant. While Chifamba still has a ways to go until he is at the defensive level of Tyler Adams and doesn’t quite have the same engine that Adams or Nagbe do, the potential is there.

When a team wants to deploy a midfielder that can quickly win back and keep possession then Chifamba should be one of the first names in the roster. While not a player who can go in and pick apart a defense, Chifamba is a good offensive player who is capable of making deadly plays in the final third while helping his side dominate in possession. The largest barrier for Chifamba’s development is his club situation. His future intentions are relatively unknown and the Columbus Crew do not have a USL team so Chifamba will be stuck playing at the u19 DA level for the time being which he will soon outgrow this year. Chifamba will have Darlington Nagbe ahead of him in the Crew’s depth chart if he chooses to sign for the MLS side so he should realistically be looking to head over to Europe because Nagbe will be a very tough player to push out of the lineup. For more information, check out Dillon Payne’s article going even more in depth on Elton Chifamba here.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1248015171127111682

Jonathan Perez

Jonathan Perez currently represents Mexico but has been in United States youth national team camps in the past so until he completely rules out playing for the USA, he belongs in this list. Perez is currently the best player for the Mexico 2003’s and has the definite potential to push either Moses Nyeman or Dante Sealy out of the 2003’s first choice lineup. Perez also is great friends with dual nationals Uly Llanez and Alex Mendez who currently side with the United States so there is a chance that they can persuade him to come back to the USA youth setup. Even though Moses Nyeman is the best prospect in this age group currently, Perez is a player who could very quickly jump up the ranks as his potential is limitless. Jonathan Perez has recently signed a homegrown contract with the LA Galaxy and is yet another superstar prospect that was groomed by Brian Kleiban.

Jonathan Perez is a versatile player who is an amazing winger and even better as an attacking midfielder. Perez is a super skillful player on the ball, can fleece defenders 1v1 at will, can routinely pick out dangerous passes from out wide or centrally, and also has an incredibly accurate shot from anywhere inside 30 yards. Perez’s only weakness is that like Nyeman, he is one of the smaller players on the field and will need to put on some muscle to succeed at the next level.

Perez does have a major career roadblock in front of him because he signed a contract with the notoriously youth unfriendly LA Galaxy. The Galaxy have a long standing track record of being terrible with developing young players so this is a worry seeing Jonathan Perez, Mauricio Cuevas, and Cameron Dunbar all sign first-team contracts. Perez does have the talent to break into the LA Galaxy first team but Guillermo Schelotto will have to break the Galaxy coaching trend of never giving youth a real chance and actually let Perez do his thing at the MLS level which is will soon be ready for before the end of 2020. Even though Perez currently ranks 6th in this age group currently, he should be looked at as a player that could very well move up to the top over the next few years.

Mauricio Cuevas

Mauricio Cuevas is the other top tier 2003 prospect that Brian Kleiban has produced out of Los Angeles. Cuevas has an even larger uphill battle than Perez because not only is he in the same position as being in the notoriously youth unfriendly LA Galaxy, he also has Julian Araujo ahead of him in the right back depth chart which is a massive obstacle where one of the two will have to move to a different club either domestic or abroad if they both want to reach their ceilings. Cuevas and Araujo are very different right backs and both affect the team in different ways. While Julian Araujo is a more natural defender who is an average player going forard, Mauricio is a fantastic player going forward and is an average defender.

Mauricio’s strengths are in his skills on the ball and his athleticism. Mauricio is without a doubt the best crosser in the full back pool in the youth national team system. He can hit a cross on a dime on 99 out of 100 attempts. Cuevas is also a very good dribbler and is pacey enough to get up and down the right flank with ease. Cuevas will have to work on becoming a better 1v1 defender and his defensive positioning if he ever wants to overtake Julian Araujo in the LA Galaxy and USMNT depth chart. Both should not necessarily be viewed as weak points in his game as they are very common for players his age and will develop over time. Mauricio Cuevas has a higher ceiling than Julian Araujo but it all depends on how LA Galaxy handles the development of both players. Realistically, Mauricio Cuevas needs to head over to a lower table Bundesliga side when he turns 18.

Caden Clark

Most hardcore followers of the Development Academy are familiar with Caden Clark after he lit up the u19 DA playoffs with Barca Academy while playing three years up. Clark was named to the USSDA Playoffs Best XI by TopDrawerSoccer after scoring three goals in three games while playing up an age group. Clark used his hot streak over the last year to leverage a move to the New York Red Bulls where he signed a USL contract with NYRB2 where he will spend the next year playing before he moves up to the first team. The most notable part of Clark’s game is his soccer IQ. Clark is good with his feet and knows how to find the right pass but his ability to read the game and process what to do before he receives the ball is what makes him truly stand out. Clark’s time at Barca Academy was well spend rounding out his game to make him a player that you can count on playing as an attacking mid, center mid, or forward.

Clark could be a starter for the 2003 age group depending on the type of team they play against. While Elton Chifamba is a player who you can count on to help you beat a team that is more offensively talented, Clark is a player that this age group could rely on to come in and unlock a packed in defense. Clark being at New York Red Bulls is what makes him a prospect to watch as the Red Bulls have a great track record of properly developing young players (see Matt Miazga and Tyler Adams as recent examples). Clark is a player who could break out over the next two years and emerge as a top USMNT prospect.

Dante Sealy

Dante Sealy is the son of former FC Dallas Scott Sealy and the apple did not fall far from the tree. Dante oozes with skill and has the IQ of a player who’s father was also a professional soccer player at FC Dallas like Dante currently. Dante was the standout for me at the most recent 2003 youth national team tournament where they won the 2019 Nike International Friendlies where Sealy led the team to beat the USA u17 b-team and the Turkey u16 national team and draw against the Netherlands u16 national team. Sealy is a skillful dribbler, makes intelligent runs off of the ball, an incredible athlete, a good finisher and has a fantastic passing range due to a high IQ and vision which is a result of being under his father’s tutelage for many years.

Sealy like Jonathan Perez, has a very good chance to climb the ranks in this age group but has to become more consistent in his performances. At the youth levels he has looked like a man among boys over the last year and at the USL level he has looked like a boy among men. Part of this does result from him being so young and still developing physically so his play in 2020 will need to reflect that he can handle playing against much older and stronger competition. Sealy is a player that has a good chance at playing up a u20 cycle for the current u20 national team as he is the best winger in the 2003 age group and is better than all of the 2002 wingers except for Gio Reyna who is almost a guarantee to not have any involvement for a youth national team ever again except at the Olympics in 2020 and 2024. If Sealy can keep producing like he does at the youth levels in the USL this season then Luchi Gonzalez will no doubt let him prove himself at the MLS at the first opportunity. Because of his club situation, Dante should be viewed as a top tier USMNT prospect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN0HmK88Js8

Casey Walls

Casey Walls is currently the best center back in the 2003 age group. His combination of size, soccer IQ, and technical skills for a center back are what help him stand out. Casey signed a homegrown contract with the San Jose Earthquakes in November 2019 and is the highest ceiling prospect in the clubs system currently. What truly stands out about Casey’s game is his passing from the deep position, Casey is the best passing center back in the entire youth national team pool.

The weakness in Casey Walls’ game is that he is not the fastest player. He makes up for this weakness by being very intelligent with his positioning but he is not a player that you should expect to run down a pacey forward. Casey does have a good shot at breaking into the Earthquake’s lineup sooner rather than later as Matías Almeyda does have the mentality of if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. If Walls can prove in minutes with Reno 1868 in the USL in 2020 then don’t be shocked if Walls is pushing for first team minutes in mid-2021 or early 2022. Walls should be a consistent call up for the 2003 age group and is one to watch as he develops long term.

Chris Garcia

Chris Garcia is a player who just appeared on many fan’s radar as he recently signed a first team contract with Real Salt Lake earlier this year. Chris is a lightning fast winger with the dribbling skills to roast a fullback consistently throughout a 90 minute match. Out of all of the top players in the age group, Chris is the most raw but also has a very high ceiling as he has all of the key qualities that you would want to see in a winger. Chris also is very physically gifted for his age so he could push for minutes quickly at a club who historically has been very good with playing their homegrown players.

Chris Garcia’s weakness is that like Dante Sealy, he can be inconsistent. This is something that is very common for a 17 year old player as he still has to get down the mental side of the game which will come as he becomes a more experienced professional. With Chris being at a club with numerous other homegrown players who will help show him the way, fans should be very optimistic about Chris’ future.

Patrick Weah

Yes, you were correct when you looked at that last name and thought “is he related to George and Tim Weah?”. Patrick Weah is the nephew of George Weah and the cousin of Tim Weah and is good enough to represent the family name with pride. Like both George and Tim, Patrick’s first quality that you will notice is that he is an eye popping athlete. Patrick has the combination of both size and speed that coaches dream of having in a striker. To put it lightly, Patrick is too good for the u17 DA where is currently playing. He literally looks like a man among boys. However, being a physically gifted athlete is not only why he is rated so high, Patrick also has the skill to back it up. Patrick is a fantastic dribbler and a competent finisher just like both George and Tim Weah.

There is one major weakness in Patrick’s game which is his movement off of the ball. Like most 16 year old players, Patrick has not quite figured out how to efficiently move off the ball and playing at a level where he is physically and technically superior than everyone else, he doesn’t have to which is detrimental to his development. Once Patrick has been at the club for a year which will happen next summer, Minnesota need to immediately sign him and loan him to a USL team where he can play against players that can actually give him a challenge. If Patrick is kept at the u19 level next year, then Minnesota United is failing him. Check out Dillon Payne’s article breaking down Patrick Weah here.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1240390297684774912

The depth chart for the 2003 age group

USYNT 2003 03 Best XI

The best defensive back line for this age group is Mauricio Cuevas on the right, Jonathan Gomez on the left, and Justin Che and Casey Walls as the center backs. Cuevas and Gomez will provide an extra spark out wide that will take this team’s attack from being great, to being fantastic. Walls and Che will anchor the back line and will boss the opposition’s forwards while also being able to comfortably keep possession for the team. Should any of the back four need to be subbed off then their backups could all come on and the team would not lose a step as the depth is that good. Even if any of the first two options among any of the back line positions are hurt then there is no reason to worry as Jacob Greene, Jalen Neal, Markus Fernakus, and Michael Halliday can step in with no problem.

The best midfield to run out is Daniel Leyva as the 6, Elton Chifamba at the 8, and Moses Nyeman as the 10. This is a midfield that would dominate in possession, cover the back line well, and create danger in the attack. If you want a team that will be more dangerous in the other team’s half against a team that will sit back and defend, then you could start Caden Clark at the 8, or move Moses Nyeman to the 8 and start Jonathan Gomez as the 10. There are numerous ways that you could set this midfield up, all will likely lead to success. Javier Casas, Jack McGlynn, and Paxten Aaronson are right on the bubble for this roster and fans should not be surprised to see any of them be included in a first choice roster for this age group.

The attack for this age group is what I really think is significant. The best forward trio to run out is Dante Sealy and Chris Garcia on the wings with Ricardo Pepi up top. Both Sealy and Garcia can create danger out wide with ease and feed Ricardo Pepi all the service he needs to put the ball in the back of the net multiple times a game. This attack would have pace, would be technically sound, and if any of them needed to come off the pitch, then Fabrizio Bernal, Kevin Paredes, and Patrick Weah would be able to come on and be equally dangerous in the final third. Not only is the second string good for this roster but the third string players (Patrick Bohui, Sam Sarver, and Cade Cowell) are all good enough to be a threat for the other team if they step on the field. Cade Cowell has already made his MLS debut and is the fourth choice right winger (Jonathan Perez would be played over Cowell at right wing).

The 2003 age group should have the highest expectations that a youth national team cycle has ever had. In 2023, if this group does not make it to at least the semi final then USMNT fans should be relatively surprised. Not only is the first choice roster for this age group good, but the second and third strings would are also filled with incredibly talented players. This age group’s depth all around is abnormally good for a youth national team.

When you move the best 2004 and 2005 players like Antonio Leone, Evan Rotundo, Fede Oliva, Malik Sanogo, Nati Clarke, Chris Brady, Gabe Slonina, Allan Rodriguez, Kenan Hot, Gage Akalu, Leo Torres, and more into the cycle then you are looking at a group that will likely be favored to win in any game that they are in regardless of the competition’s skill level. This age group is special and is likely to yield numerous USMNT players in the future.

I would like to give both Charlie Kennan (@charlie_kennan) and ChuckMe92 (@ChuckMe92Soccer) for collaberating with me to create both the lineup and the top 25 ranking. If you are not following either of them then you are missing out, both of these guys are are two of the most knowledgeable sources for information on the domestic and foreign USMNT youth player pool. I highly recommend that you give them a follow.

The Top 25 Ranking for the 2003 Age Group

  1. Moses Nyeman- Attacking Mid/Center Mid (DC United)
  2. Jonathan Gomez- Left Back (Louisville City FC)
  3. Ricardo Pepi- Striker (FC Dallas)
  4. Danny Leyva- Defensive Mid/Center Mid (Seattle Sounders)
  5. Elton Chifamba- Center Mid/Defensive Mid (Columbus Crew)
  6. Jonathan Perez- Attacking Mid/Winger (LA Galaxy)
  7. Mauricio Cuevas- Right Back (LA Galaxy)
  8. Caden Clark- Center Mid/Attacking Mid (New York Red Bulls)
  9. Dante Sealy- Winger (FC Dallas)
  10. Casey Walls- Center Back (San Jose Earthquakes)
  11. Chris Garcia- Winger (Real Salt Lake)
  12. Patrick Weah- Striker (Minnesota United)
  13. Justin Che- Center Back (FC Dallas)
  14. Fabrizio Bernal- Winger (San Antonio FC)
  15. Tarun Karumanchi- Defensive Mid/Center Mid (San Jose Earthquakes)
  16. Kevin Paredes- Winger/Attacking Mid (DC United)
  17. Sam Sarver- Striker/Winger (Columbus Crew)
  18. Matthew Roou- Striker (Shattuck-Saint Mary’s)
  19. Dante Huckaby- Center Back (Philadelphia Union)
  20. Patrick Bohui- Winger/Striker (Philadelphia Union)
  21. Noah Hall- Right Back (Columbus Crew)
  22. Anthony Sorenson- Left Back (Philadelphia Union)
  23. Cade Cowell- Winger (San Jose Earthquakes)
  24. Paxten Aaronson- Attacking Mid (Philadelphia Union)
  25. Tyler Freeman- Winger/Attacking Mid (Sporting Kansas City)

If you enjoyed this article, check out our breakdowns on the 2001 and 2002 age groups and follow @dkerr0118 on twitter for more information and updates on the USMNT’s youth prospects!

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American Transfers: Stock Up & Stock Down

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4 weeks ago

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September 9, 2024

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The 2024 summer transfer window closed on September 1st and over a dozen Americans made a move in the two-month span.  These players range from youth players, like Mathias Albert, to veteran players like John Brooks.  Some moves were great, and some were not.  This article will review several of these transfers and determine if it was a stock up or stock down.

Sergiño Dest & Malik Tillman to PSV- Stock Up

Both Dest and Malik Tillman went on loan (with option to buy) to PSV in the Eredivisie at the start of last season.  Both had a great season where they could have gone to a better league for this season.  PSV decided to trigger both player’s buy option, making them permanent players for the Dutch club.  These are good moves in my opinion because Dest had a regrettable loan to Milan two seasons ago and a difficult relationship with Xavi Hernandez. 

Dest needs another season (in his case, half a season) with the Dutch club to develop, recover his young career, and show clubs that he can compete in the UCL.  The same goes for Tillman, who needs to further develop his attacking, work rate, and ability to compete in the UCL.  If both can replicate and/or take a step up from their performance from last season, they should return to a top 5 league.  (Note: Bayern has a buy-back option for Malik Tillman)

Santiago Castañeda to Paderborn- Stock Up

The Tampa-born Colombian-American spent last season with the 3. Liga with Duisburg where he appeared in 31 matches with 2 goals and 2 assists.  This season, he is with Paderborn, a consistent 2. Bundesliga club and he already has a goal in 5 starts across all competitions.  This is impressive when you realize that Santiago will be turning 20 years old on November 13th.  US fans (who do not follow USL closely) are just now learning about him and some probably have already written him off because of his background. 

He is taking a similar path as Lennard Maloney, who played in both 3. Liga and 2. Bundesliga before moving back up to the Bundesliga.  In Santiago’s case, he started with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship before moving to Duisburg.  To add to the move being a stock up because of moving up a league, he is also a CDM, a position that the US is lacking depth at.  Other American CDMs who are in about his age (+/- 1 years old) are Daniel Edelman, Moses Nyeman, Marcel Ruszel, and Ethan Kohler (although, he is being converted to an RB) to name a few.  If he continues down this path, he can become the #1 American CDM in his age group followed by Pedro Soma (who is 2 years younger than Santiago) in the next age group.

Paxten Aaronson to Utrecht- Stock Up

The Paris Olympian will be heading back to the Eredivisie, but this time, he will be joining fellow Americans Taylor Booth and Rickson van Hees at Utrecht.  Paxten had a successful half season with Vitesse where he had 4 goals in 14 appearances.  As a CAM, he is competing against Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman (both being only a year older) for a spot on the USMNT.  Right now, he is not beating either one of them out, even with Gio being injury prone and Tillman’s lack of producibility for the USMNT. 

Gio has had several occasions of great moments with the national team and Tillman is coming off a 24-goal contribution season.  Going back to the Eredivisie would greatly help his development before heading back to Eintracht Frankfurt.  Also, if he has a more productive season than Tillman, then there is an argument to make Paxten the #2 CAM for the USMNT.  Currently, Tillman has 4 goal contributions in 5 matches across all competitions to Paxten’s 1 assist in 4 matches.

Caleb Wiley to Chelsea with loan to Strasbourg- Stock Up

This is one of the players who needed a move this summer and who was able to get an upgrade.  Caleb Wiley arguably has the highest ceiling amongst our U23 LBs.  Now, Strasbourg is employing him more as an LWB, which is, in my opinion, his best position.  Last season at Atlanta, Wiley started as a LW that led to a fantastic form.  When he moved to LB, he became inconsistent and stagnated, but he played more as a LWB and his form went back up.  Along with that and with him turning 20 in December, he needed to get out of MLS. 

We see what happens to players who stay in the MLS too long, i.e. John Tolkin, who has struggled to transition his club form to the USMNT, and Brandon Vazquez, who is now struggling to start for Monterrey and out of the USMNT picture.  Playing in a top 5 league and being developed into an LWB can help him unlock his full potential.  To add, Wiley already has 2 starts, a halftime substitution, and an assist for Strasbourg.

Rodrigo Neri to Atlanta 2- Stock Down

This is one of the most disappointing moves for those who follow the USYNT U20 team and the future state of the USMNT striker position.  Neri’s young career has dramatically fallen in just one year.  He was part of the Atletico de Madrid academy since 2021 but left their U19 team for Valencia U19 to now Atlanta 2.  Based on Be Soccer, Neri had 0 goal contributions in just only 11 matches for both Spanish U19 teams.  7 games in and Neri already has 3 goals and 1 assist for Atlanta 2.  This can either mean he has improved, returned to his Atletico U19 B form (where he had 17 goals in 32 matches), and/or that MLSNP is weaker than División de Honor Juvenil (the league that Atleti U19 is part of).  Either way, we can already see that his lack of goals has impacted his international career. 

The last time that he was part of the team was the U19/20 March camp against Morocco and England.  He was left off the CONCACAF U20 Championship for Keyrol Figueroa and Marcos Zambrano.  This is after being part of the U19 team that participated in the 2023 PanAm Games where he had 1 goal in 5 matches.  Besides that, he had scored a goal against England and a brace against Norway when he was part of the U17 team in 2022.  AS USA even had a piece on Neri back in 2022 calling him the next big thing for the US. 

Usually, this far of a drop would almost take you out of the international conversation but knowing US Soccer’s habit of calling up MLSNP players like Sergio Oregel Jr., there is still a chance that Neri can be back in the conversation in time of the 2025 U20 World Cup.  The only positive thing about this move is that it could help him get his career back on track.

Vaughn Covil to Las Vegas- Stock Down

For Covil’s career, this was the right move to make.  For his international career, it only leaves the Philippines for him.  His chances with England were never going to happen.  2-3 years ago, you could have said he had a chance with the US and even more with Canada with the right development.  Now, he is better off committing to the Philippines if he wants to have an international career. 

It’s a stock down move because it would’ve been better if he had made a deal with an EFL League 2 club than coming to the USL Championship and because he is limited to just one national team instead of four.  Hopefully, he does well at Las Vegas and can get a call-up by the Philippines.

Jonathan Gomez to PAOK- Stock Down

This move is one of the most disappointing of all the transfers this summer by an American.  While at Louisville and with the USYNT, he looked like a future LB/LWB option for the USMNT and another dual national battle with Mexico.  When he went to Real Sociedad and after his successful loan to Mirandes in La Liga 2, things were in an upward trajectory.  He left Real Sociedad (likely because they didn’t want to extend his contract, so they opt to sell him to make a profit) for reigning Greek champions, PAOK.  When it should have been a positive that he will be playing in his first season at a 1st division, it is a negative because of it being the Greek Super League 1.  PAOK is also in the Europa League and that should’ve been a positive for his career, but the Greek champions left him off their UEL roster. 

He is still only 21 years old and if he does well enough for them, then he can move up to a better league in a season or two.  At this moment, he has slipped out of the conversation to compete with Lund, Tolkin, and Wiley to be the future #1 LB/LWB.  To make matters worse, Caleb Wiley’s 2024/25 season has started off well at Strasbourg with 2 starts and an assist.  You could argue that during the 2023 U20 World Cup that JoGo was the better of the two at the LB/LWB position but now Wiley is above him on the depth chart.

Aidan Morris to Middlesborough- Stock Up

Like Caleb Wiley, Morris needed to leave MLS to further his development and avoid the situation that John Tolkin is in.  Even though Morris has been underwhelming for the USMNT, he has the potential to be a consistent player of the 23-26 men roster.  So far this season with Boro, he has been a standout and quick favorite amongst the fans.  Going to the EFL Championship was one of the best choices he could have made as his next stop.  The physicality of the league will teach him how to become more physical and his quick decision-making.  The development could easily put him in the top 4 CDM options for 2026. 

The biggest question for him is, can he transition his great club form to the national team.  If he can pull it off, he can jump ahead of Lennard Maloney and Tanner Tessmann, depending on how he does with Lyon this season.  This is a top 3 move by an American player not just because how the season is going so far for him but because Boro will be competing for promotion and development potential.

Tanner Tessman to Lyon- Stock Up

Tessmann’s transfer saga is one for the books.  He was closely linked to Inter Milan and Fiorentina until both fell apart because of disagreements.  Towards the end of the transfer window, he got a move to a top Ligue 1 club, Lyon.  If he had stayed with Venezia, he still would’ve been playing in a top-five league, but Lyon is the better option.  Venezia will be fighting to stay in the Serie A like they did in 2021/22, whereas Lyon is consistently a top 10 French club, and in many cases a top 5 club. 

To add to that, Lyon is in the UEL.  The season is not going well for Lyon right now, but they can recover and compete for UEFA qualification.  The club and the fans will be more demanding than Venezia because of their prestige, he can learn from veteran players like Matic and Veretout and it would require him to compete for starts.  It’ll be a real test for him after his last time in a top 5 league did not go as well and two great seasons in the Serie B.

All of these will help him take the next step and help him be in the top 3 CDM USMNT conversation.  The battle Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Maloney, Johnny Cardoso, and Tyler Adams (once he returns) for the top 2 CDM spots on the USMNT will be a joy to watch this season.

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Who’s a Keeper?

Published

2 months ago

on

August 21, 2024

By

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

The USMNT has had a solid track record with goalkeepers over the last three decades. There seems to be a problematic situation with their current group. Is this an overreaction or a real concern for the USMNT which is less than 2 years away from hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The average age of the last seven USMNT goalkeepers to regularly start in one of the top two tiers in Europe is 27.5 years old and while it took several seasons for Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Brad Guzan to settle and have continued success they did while all having the opportunity to be the number goalkeeper for the USMNT.

Where there has been a lot of deserved criticism towards Matt Turner’s play with the USMNT lately it’s clear that he remains the best shot-stopper in the pool, but also clear that a transfer from Nottingham Forest is desperately needed to provide regular playing for Turner. Turner’s foot skills remain weak along with the rest of the USMNT goalkeeper pool very much an area that needs improving. Something they could learn from Tony Meola who was hands down the best USMNT goalkeeper with his feet.

Struggles also continue for Ethan Horvath whose transfer to Cardiff City last February was supposed to provide him with the needed playing time to push Turner for the number one goalkeeper spot of the USMNT but, his performance at Copa America didn’t inspire many, along with a recent match for Cardiff City where he conceded five goals.

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 27: Matt Turner (L) and Ethan Horvath of United States interact during the United States Training Session at Al Gharafa Stadium on November 27, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)


November 27, 2022, in Doha, Qatar (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

USMNT Youth Goalkeepers

The current group of USMNT goalkeeper prospects appears to be solid, but if history has proven anything there are no guarantees. The list of the failed USMNT youth keepers over the last decade is long. It includes names like Joe Bendik, Alex Bono, Cody Cropper, Tally Hall, Clint Irwin, Dan Kennedy, and Luis Robles, of the over 15 USMNT prospect goalkeepers who have only been capped 18 times, eight of those held by Bill Hamid.

At the moment goalkeepers Antonio Carrera (20), Matt Freese (25), Chituru Odunze (21), and John Pulskamp (23) are on the outside looking in compared to the goalkeepers listed below.

Currently playing for Fulham U-21 Premier League 2 (Reserve League) Alex Borto (20) who was part of the 2023 U-20 World in May and June, but didn’t receive any playing time will need to increase his current playing time to get more opportunities but, I feel Borto is much lower on the youth USMNT depth chart at the moment.

A regular starter for the Chicago Fire over the last couple of seasons Chris Brady (20) is another highly touted USMNT goalkeeper, who has been held back from regularly being called into USMNT youth camps by his club. A move to Europe would provide him with the next level of competition needed to continue his growth as a goalkeeper.

Who would trust a now 18-year-old who hasn’t had any professional experience to start for the USMNT? Not many but Diego Kochen (18) who is currently with FC Barcelona Atlètic in the Third Division is a name that continues to be mentioned, but highly unlikely in my opinion.

As the starter for all four of the U-23 USMNT Olympic matches Patrick Schulte (23) has earned a call-up to the USMNT. Schulte has had a very strong season with the Columbus Crew which accounts for 8 clean sheets over all matches at the time of this article.

Many fans think Gaga Slonina (20) is the best U-23 goalkeeper in the player pool and is destined to be the number-one goalkeeper after the 2026 cycle. Slonina is currently playing in EFL League One the third division in England. Slonina was the starting goalkeeper for U-20 USMNT where he had four straight clean sheets helping lead the US to the quarter-finals. He also was part of the U-23 USA Olympic team but failed to receive any playing time.


October 4, 2022, (Photo by Christian Hansen/Chicago Fire FC)

Aging or Bridge Goalkeeper Options

The list of recent third and often injured USMNT goalkeepers Drake Callender (26), Roman Celentano (23), Sean Johnson (35), and Zack Steffen (29) provide little to no confidence when looking at a current solution and none are likely to break into the top two of the depth chart but, stranger things have happened in the world of USMNT goalkeepers.

Looking Ahead

With less than 2 years until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s unlikely that any of the younger USMNT goalkeepers will be able to play at higher levels and contend for the number one spot, which I believe still belongs to Matt Turner, but, Turner needs to do whatever possible to get a transfer to another top five leagues or worse case Eredivisie or EFL Championship as he needs to be playing matches every week to ensure he’s in form and improving headed into the World Cup with the backup position is up for grabs.

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The Top 10 Americans in Europe this Season

Published

4 months ago

on

June 10, 2024

By

The season is over for most of the major European leagues and compared to last season, this was a better season for Americans in Europe.  The US had several Americans win a trophy this season or were promoted with their club.  Both Tim Weah and Weston McKennie won the Coppa Italia, while Cameron Carter-Vickers won the double in Scotland.  You also had Nick Gioacchini, Gianluca Busio, and Tanner Tessmann gain promotion to Serie A in their respected clubs.  In this article we will cover who we consider to be our top 10 Americans this season in Europe.  The stats information for each player comes from FotMob.

Lennard Maloney

Few Americans played in the Bundesliga this season and even fewer had a good season in the German topflight.  Lennard Maloney was one of those Americans who had a successful Bundesliga season.  Maloney was the main central defender for the newly promoted club Heidenheim.  Last season, he helped them win the 2. Bundesliga to get their first ever promotion to the Bundesliga.  This season, he helped Heidenheim qualify for the UEFA Conference League, their first ever continental competition.  Few American soccer players can say they have that accomplishment.  It was only until this season did Maloney get his first call-up to the USMNT.  Maloney was spectacular on the stats sheet, but it was what he did off the ball that made him one of the best American players this season in a top European league.  At one point during the season, Maloney was leading in distance covered.  His ability to stop the opposition’s transition to the attack helped Heidenheim to have 1.6 goals conceded per match and a possession of 42.1%.  Maloney outperformed 97% of Bundesliga midfielders in aerial duels won and 90% in defensive actions.  Between the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal, Maloney started in 29 matches out of 31 matches played with 2 goals and 1 assist.  He also had an 83.5% passing accuracy, 69.4% long ball accuracy, 29 tackles for 80.2%, 79.1% aerial duels won, 29 interceptions, and 144 recoveries.  For me, Maloney barely makes it in the top 10 list due to his low stats.  His accomplishments for Heidenheim and being a major piece to their successful season can’t be ignored.

Chris Richards

April 21, 2024: Crystal Palace v West Ham United Premier League 21/04/2024. Chris Richards 26 of Crystal Palace during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Ham United at Selhurst Park, London, England on 21 April 2024. Editorial use only DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com , Copyright: xNigelxKeenex PSI-19528-0101 (Credit Image: © Imago via ZUMA Press)

It took a while for Chris Richards to get a start for Crystal Palace and it was worth the wait.  When Richards began getting minutes this season, it was at defensive midfielder.  He took people by surprise with his solid performances in the position.  With the injury of Marc Guehi and Crystal Palace moving to a back 3, Richards became a lock starter in the defense.  It was rocky at first for him, but that all changed when Oliver Glasner took over the club.  In the first match under the new manager, Richards got a goal.  Richards became one of Crystal Palace’s best CBs.  In the 30 matches played, Richards started in 27.  Richards finished ahead of 83% of the CBs in the Premier League in aerial duels, and 66% in both defensive actions and goals.  Across all competitions, Richards had 1 goal and 1 assist, 85% passing accuracy, 59.2% tackles won, 54.5% duels won, 37 interceptions, and 106 recoveries.  There is hope next season for Richards.  Guehi is gathering interest from other EPL clubs once again and Glasner will be returning next season.  If Richards retains his starting role next season, we could see Richards be one of Palace’s best defenders.  Due to not appearing in every match, having some inconsistent matches before the Glasner Era, and not unlocking his full potential this season until Glasner took over is why Richards is 9th on my list.

    Josh Sargent

    Norwich City v Southampton – Sky Bet Championship – Carrow Road Norwich City s Josh Sargent during the Sky Bet Championship match at Carrow Road, Norwich. Picture date: Monday January 1, 2024. EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxIRL Copyright: xAdamxDavyx 74979369

    One of the US’ most prolific scorers this season came from Josh Sargent in the English Championship.  Missing 22 matches due to an ankle injury did not stop him from scoring double-digit goals, but it did stop him from winning the league’s golden boot.  Sargent finished 6th in goals scored with 16 in 26 league matches played with 2 assists.  If Sargent had not sustained the injury, he would have been in the argument for the league’s golden boot.  Across all competitions, Sargent started in 25 matches out of 28 matches played.  When you compare his traits to other strikers in the English Championship, Sargent finished ahead of 65% strikers in chances created, 83% shot attempts, and 96% goals.  In league play, Sargent had an 81.8% passing, 23 chances created, 47.5% dribbles completed, 45.4% duels won, and 39 recoveries.  Even with the injury, there have been rumors that Premier League clubs are monitoring him.  Maybe we will see him back in the EPL next season.  The reason he falls just short of the top 5 is because between the months of May and April, he had only 2 goals and 1 assist.  As a striker, you cannot have only 3 G/A in 2 months.  The injury also allowed others, mainly Haji Wright, to pass him in the top 10 Americans in Europe this season.  If he was not out for 4 months and was in contention for Championship Golden Boot, he would have been a top 5 American.

      Johnny Cardoso

      Johnny would be much higher on this list if he had played a full season in Europe based on his form with Los Verdiblancos since joining in January when you compare him to the other Americans in a top 5 league.  Johnny took LaLiga by storm and quickly took a starting role in just his second match, which happened to be against Barcelona.  He also received how praises from Manuel Pellegrini just after his first week with the club.  Johnny was awarded the LaLiga EA Sports U23 Player of the Month in February, his first full month for Real Betis.  Johnny’s quick adoption to LaLiga and excellent performances has already caused inquiries from major clubs, one of those clubs being Barcelona, and being a LaLiga U23 Player of the Season nominee.  Across all competitions, Johnny had 3 goal contributions, 72% long ball accuracy, 9 chances created, 78.9% successful dribbles, 34 tackles won for 65.9%, 51.2% of duels won, 35 interceptions, 101 recoveries between LaLiga and Europa Conference League.  In just half of a season, Johnny beat 96% of midfielders in LaLiga for defensive actions and 92% of them in aerial duels.  For playing only half a season in a top 5 league, these are very impressive numbers, and it made him one of the most exciting Americans to watch in Europe this season.  His nomination for LaLiga U23 Player of the Season, winning a U23 Player of the Month, and the quality of the teams he faced compared to other Americans in Europe is very difficult to ignore when placing him on this list.  Johnny only playing half the season in Europe does keep him from being higher up in the top.  If he can continue this form next season, he will for sure be a top 5 American in Europe.  Next season, Real Betis will be taking part in the Europa Conference League once again.

        Malik Tillman

        The American player who had one of the best loan spells this season was Malik Tillman.  After his successful loan at Glasgow Rangers last season, Malik Tillman proved that he could conquer a top 7 league after putting up 19 goal contributions for PSV in the Eredivisie.  His effort on the offense helped PSV win the league title.  Amongst all attacking midfielders and wingers in the Eredivisie, Malik finished ahead of 94% of the players in touches and 92% in chances created.  Also, he beat out 90% of them in defensive actions and 71% in goals.  Malik started in 24 matches out of 39 across all competitions with a total of 21 goal contributions (his one match with Jong PSV is not included).  Tillman also had 71% shots on target in league play; 81.6% passing accuracy, 67.8% long ball accuracy, 61 chances created, 47 successful dribbles for 47.8%, 3 penalties won, 36 tackles for 81.2%, 48.2% duels won, 25 interceptions, 9 blocks, 171 recoveries, and 39 possessions won in the final third.  On May 10th, PSV made the announcement at the end of the season that they had acquired Tillman permanently through 2028 and Bayern retained their buy-back clause.  PSV were not the only club that was pleased by his performance this season.  His parent club, Bayern, was reportedly to be very happy with his season as well.  Maybe we will see Tillman back in a Bayern shirt in the future.  Tillman not being higher on this list was due to his inconsistent performances in the Champions League and early in the Eredivisie season.

          Segiño Dest

          The player with arguably the best loan spell of the Americans in Europe was Sergiño Dest.  After appearing in only 14 matches for Milan AC last season and his second season with Barcelona under Xavi Hernández.  A step back to the Eredivisie was the right move for Dest to rejuvenate his career.  Due to Jordan Teze being PSV’s RB, Dest played LB this season and was successful at it, showing he can play on both sides.  In the Eredivisie, Dest made it on the Team of the Month on multiple occasions.  There are still improvements that need to be made in his defensive game, and that was evident in the UCL matches.  In the Eredivisie, Dest finished ahead of 90% of other fullbacks in chances created, 88% in touches, and 90% in shot attempts.  Across all competitions, Dest finished with 9 goal contributions, 86.9% passing accuracy, 69.1% long ball accuracy, 52 chances created, 62.4% dribbles completed, 58.5% ground duels won, and 163 recoveries.  Dest played a critical role in PSV winning the Eredivisie this season.  He did make some mistakes in the UCL matches, but he was still one of PSV’s better players in the competition.  Even though the Eredivisie is not a top 5 league in Europe, Dest was one of our top performers and most informed American players in Europe.

            Haji Wright

            Arguably one of the top 3 Americans in England this season, it did not start well for Haji Wright in his record transfer to Coventry City.  In his first 3 months at the club, Haji only had 2 goals and 2 assists.  Things did not start to turn around for him until November when he scored 3 goals in 4 matches.  By the end of the 1st half of the season, Haji had 12 goal contributions.  What changed for him?  Manager Mark Robins moved Haji to LW and occasionally as a left striker.  That move in position helped provide Haji Wright his best season of his career and one of the best American players this season.  His most iconic goal in my opinion this season was scoring the winning goal at the last minute against Wolves to help get Coventry City into the FA Cup Semi-Final followed by his goal against Manchester United.  By the end of the season, Haji had 25 goal contributions across all competitions, tying him with Christian Pulisic for most goal contributions by an American in a top 10 European league.  In league play, Haji and Sargent tied for 6th in goals with 16.  Haji was better than 93% attacking midfielders and wingers in aerial duels won, along with 97% in goals, and 98% in shot attempts.  Haji finished the season with 75.9% in passing, 32 chances created, 4 penalty goals, 36 completed dribbles, 49 fouls won, 63.9% tackles, 47.8% aerial duels won, and 114 recoveries.  If Haji Wright can recreate this season again next year in the English Championship, I will have no doubt he will be linked to a move to the Premier League.

              Weston McKennie

              Another player who was consistent for his European club this season was Weston McKennie for Juventus in the Serie A.  McKennie was one of the most informed players for Juventus this season and their leading player in assists with 7.  There has been discussion by Serie A media since January that McKennie deserves to be on the Serie A Team of the Season.  He spent a good amount of the season at RWB and was very successful.  He did not move to his natural position (central midfielder) until later in the season due to injuries.  Even with being one of Juve’s best players this season and being in discussion for Serie A Team of the Season, Juve refused to give the salary raise that McKennie asked for, leaving his future with the Italian giants in doubt.  McKennie started in 33 matches out of 38 matches.  He finished the season with 10 assists. 77.4% passing accuracy and 64.4% long ball accuracy across all competitions.  He also created 46 chances, 60.8% completed dribbles, 31 completed tackles for 80.2%, 168 duels won for 42.3%, 20 interceptions, and 128 recoveries.  When you compared McKennie to other Serie A midfielders, he outperformed 87% of them in chances created and 65% for aerial duels won.  After how things went last season for him, he had one of the biggest improvements in performance for an American along with Christian Pulisic.  The reason he finishes behind Pulisic is because he did not score a single goal and he was beginning to struggle in form towards the end of the season.  He was one of the few Americans to win a trophy this season by winning the Coppa Italia.

                Christian Pulisic

                It is a close call between Pulisic and Weston McKinnie for the 2nd best American this season and even 1st between Pulisic and Antonee Robinson.  I must give it to Pulisic because of his offensive work rate and productivity, and his European competition performance this season.  Pulisic finished the season with 15 goals and 10 assists across all competitions (1 goal being in the Champions League (UCL), and 2 goals and an assist being in the UEL) bringing a total of 25 G/A, the most he has had in a single season.    In Serie A, Pulisic tied for 4th of all players in the league for goals and assists.  For Milan, he was their 2nd highest goal scorer and had the 2nd most assists.  Pulisic started in 44 matches out of 55 matches played across all competitions.  Pulisic was nominated by the league for best midfielder of the season.  When compared to attacking midfielders and wingers in Serie A, he scored more goals than 91% of other players in those positions.  He also had an 83% passing accuracy, 60 chances created, 28.5% crossing accuracy (in the league, Pulisic was in the 72.7% ranking), 66 successful dribbles for 49%, 181 touches in opposition box, 71.3% tackles won, 198 ground duels won for 46.3%, 24 blocks, 11 interceptions, and 138 recoveries.  Since becoming a professional athlete, this was Christian Pulisic’s best season of his career.  People would argue he only performed as well as he did because he took a step down.  Even with Serie A not being at the level that the EPL is at, it is still a top 5 league in the world and Milan is one of the biggest clubs in Europe.  The reason why he is not the #1 American for this season is because Pulisic was not being consistent, especially against major opponents.

                Antonee Robinson

                  It was a tight decision between Antonee Robinson and Christian Pulisic for best American player in Europe this season, but I must hand it to Antonee.  Antonee Robinson was arguably the best LB in the English Premier League this season and even argued to be the best fullback this season.  This is very challenging when talking about the best league and the world where you have the likes of Kyle Walker, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Andrew Robertson.  For the USMNT, he was perhaps the most consistent American in Europe this season.  Antonee started a total of 42 out of 44 matches.  He had a total of 6 assists this season, making him one of the top EPL defenders in assists this season.  He also finished with the most interceptions in the EPL with 80, 15 more than Lewis Cook, who had the 2nd most in the league.  This does not just include the EPL, but Jedi also had the most interceptions across Europe’s top 7 leagues.  In the top 7 European leagues, he came in 3rd in possession won in defensive 3rd with 145.  When comparing him to other fullbacks in the EPL, he outperformed 95% of the league’s fullbacks in defensive actions, 80% in touches, and 68% in aerial duels won.  Across all competitions, Antonee had 35 chances created, passing accuracy of 76.5%, 23% crossing accuracy, 49 successful dribbles for 60.3%, tackles won, 56.5% duels won, and 264 recoveries.  Antonee has made it on several reviewers’ EPL Team of the Season and is being monitored by top clubs for this summer by the likes of Liverpool and Bayern.  Compared to other Americans in Europe this season, Jedi made it on more continental stats leaderboards and competing in this best league in the world making him the best American in Europe this season.

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