Club News
The Top 10 Americans in Europe this Season
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
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
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.