20230803 American States United

🤍🖤🇺🇸 Juvent-USA 🇺🇸🖤🤍

Amazing Americans Abroad Moment, as Juventus’ Weston McKennie feeds Tim Weah for the goal against Real Madrid Wednesday night. Might reports of McKennie’s Turin demise have been greatly exaggerated after all?

The Talented Mr. Musah:

Not since Matt Damon struck Jude Law with an oar have Americans been this badly wanted in Italy. But unlike Tom Ripley and Dickie Greenleaf, our lads aren’t flitting about Europe as gentlemen of leisure, heads-down working in pursuit of a dream instead. They are quite talented, though.

Soon to be officially joining compatriots Tim Weah (23; Rosedale, NY) 🇮🇹, Weston McKennie 🇮🇹 (24; Little Elm, TX), and Christian Pulisic (24; Hershey, PA) 🇮🇹 in Italy — the three popping up on the pitch together during a preseason friendly — is midfielder Yunus Musah 🇪🇸 (20; London, ENG). Rumored for months to be joining the legendary Italian club, Musah’s move to AC Milan received the official “Here We Go!” stamp of approval Monday morning, meaning it’s just a matter of time until we’re treated to images of him holding up a red-and-black kit for the cameras, perhaps while posing awkwardly next to U.S. teammate Christian Pulisic.

Heading to the San Siro has to be seen as a great move for Musah. Musah is moving from a Spanish team that spent most of last season flirting with relegation in Valencia, to AC Milan, an ambitious Champions League side that is methodically building a young — yet relatively experienced — core to complement standout talents like Rafael Leao, Lucas Hernandez, and veteran goal-scorer Olivier Giroud. Plus, the USMNT is known to be a notoriously tight-knit bunch; having Pulisic there to greet him on Day One is sure to smooth the transition to a new club for Musah.

As for Puli, from juking former Chelsea defenders, to bigging up his USMNT comrades, things look to be going swimmingly for him with his new club.

Americans Abroad Transfer Updates:

Big news out of England, as two USMNT players seem to have secured spots with first- and second-tier clubs for the upcoming season.

Arsenal and Sheffield United have reportedly agreed to the permanent transfer of Auston Trusty 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Media, PA) from the North London club to the newly-promoted Premier League side for $6.4 million. You can watch the just released announcement video HERE. While Trusty was hoping to make it with the Gunners, playing time would most likely have been tough to come by with the title contenders. Trusty thrived in the Championship last season, where he was voted Birmingham City’s Supporters’ Player of the Year, so moving to a club like the Blades, who are fresh from the second tier, should be a good fit for the Philadelphia Union product.

Joining Trusty in England, about 90 miles to the south, will be USMNT striker Haji Wright 🇹🇷 (25; Los Angeles, CA). Latest reports are that Championship side Coventry City have negotiated a deal with Turkish club Antalyaspor to bring Wright over in a $10 million deal. The Sky Blues just missed out on Premier League promotion last season after being eliminated by Luton town in penalties in the playoff final, so Wright will be joining a club with aspirations of top-flight glory. Yet Coventry also sold star striker Viktor Gyökeres to Sporting Club Portugal, meaning Wright will have every chance to help fill the massive 21-goal gap left behind with the Swede’s departure.

Elsewhere in England, Aston Villa are reportedly close to triggering Tyler Adams’ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (24; Wappingers Falls, NY) relegation release clause. Adams is also reportedly turning heads at Chelsea, as well as West Ham, Brighton and Forest. The Tricky Trees may also be in for one of Adams’ national team teammates, as Matt Turner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (29; Park Ridge, NJ) has emerged as a player of interest at Nottingham Forest.

One player who wants out of England is none other than top American striker Folarin Balogun 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (22; London, ENG). Balo recently asked Arsenal to drop their asking price for him, after the Gunners rejected an Inter Milan bid that the club felt was too low. Balogun badly wanted the move to Inter — what American doesn’t want to be in Italy these days? — hence the request to lower his valuation.

A few more … Erik Palmer-Brown 🇬🇷 (26; Lee’s Summit, MO) has reportedly left Troyes in France and signed with Greek side Panathinaikos. And Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (19; Addison, IL) has been linked with a loan move to Belgian side KAS Eupen.

News & Notes:

• In the last week, Ethan Horvath 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (28; Highlands Ranch, CO) played in friendlies against PSV and Leeds, after which former Nottingham Forest assistant coach Chris Cohen said he belongs in the top flight. 🗣 “He deserves an opportunity to play in the Premier League. I can’t believe Luton don’t want him. He’s a wonderful professional and he’s good enough to play in the Premier League.”

• Josh Sargent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; O’Fallon, MO) scored in Norwich’s friendly against Olympiakos. The Canaries open the new Championship season on Saturday against Hull City.

• Julian Green 🇩🇪 (28; Tampa, FL) started and had two assists in Greuther Fürth’s 2. Bundesliga season-opening 5-0 win over Paderborn. Here’s the first of the two, a lovely chipped cross in a tight space.

Parting Shots:

Rokas Pukstas 🇭🇷 scored his second match-winner in as many games Sunday, as the 18-year-old from Stillwater, Okla. led Hajduk Split to another victory in their second match of the Croatian top-flight season. “It’s a great feeling to score to win, but credit goes to the whole team,” said Pukstas afterwards. “This victory is nice, but let’s move on, we’ll turn to the next game after a little rest.”