Pulisic’s Historic AC Milan Debut 🤌🇮🇹

“I’m very emotional, it was great to score a goal so early on my debut, great to help the team win and get a clean sheet. It was just the perfect night.”

—Christian Pulisic, to The Athletic’s James Horncastle after scoring in his AC Milan debut Monday at Udinese. Horncastle joined Rog for an entertaining, in-depth discussion about the wave of Americans invading Italy this season. Be sure to check it out here.

Pulisic’s Historic AC Milan Debut 🤌🇮🇹

“Look away, Chelsea!” That was the headline that ran on Goal.com after Christian Pulisic 🇮🇹 scored an absolute howitzer just 21 minutes into his AC Milan debut on Monday. And while sending a message to Stamford Bridge certainly wouldn’t have been going through CP11’s head within that exact moment — “I just remember driving at the back four, and seeing Oli playing a nice one-two, and the only option was to shoot,” he said to AC Milan socials about the goal after the match — it was likely the thought on every USMNT fan’s mind as soon as that laser beam hit the side netting.

You chose Mudryk over this?

It’s hard to imagine how the game could have gone any better for the USMNT star, who had been through so many ups and downs during his four years at Chelsea. With the goal, Pulisic became the fifth American to score in Serie A, and the first to do so in his debut. He also became the first U.S. footballer to score in three of Europe’s Big Five Leagues: Dortmund in the Bundesliga, Chelsea in the Premier League, and now AC Milan in Italy’s top flight.

More importantly, AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli was effusive in his praise of Pulisic after the match, and outlined the bright future the American has ahead of him with the storied Italian club.

🗣 "I knew Pulisic was a talent when I was on the phone trying to convince him to join us. I was sure we’d signed a player of great quality. He’s very versatile. He allows us to give other players a breather. He can play very well in Leao’s place on the left or off the striker."

With that one quote, Pioli said more positive things about Pulisic than the 3,000 managers he played under while at Chelsea combined.

The front pages of Italian newspapers also heaped praise upon the 24-year-old from Hershey, Pa. “MILAN, I’LL GIVE YOU AMERICA” … “MILAN BUBBLES: IN BOLOGNA THE NEW ONES IMMEDIATELY COME TO LIGHT” … Italian football poetry, the best poetry. Christian should definitely get the second one tattooed on his forearm.

Next up: Saturday at home against Torino, where he could be joined by USMNT teammate Yunus Musah 🇮🇹 (20; London ENG), who had to miss the first match due to a Valencia suspension that carried over to this season. Then a visit to Roma on Sept. 1, and then the international break, with the U.S. playing friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman. Time with the USMNT is normally a safe space for Pulisic, a welcome break from club duties. But this season, one has to wonder if he’ll even want to leave his new home in Italy and return stateside, which is a wonderful thing.

Tyler, The Transfer Creator 🍒

After watching Leeds get relegated from the sidelines due to injury, and then having what looked like a move to Chelsea fall through at the last minute, Tyler Adams 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 has finally found a new Premier League home. The USMNT captain signed a five-year deal with Bournemouth on Sunday, officially giving lift-off to what should be an exciting chapter of his playing career.

The Cherries’ new No. 18 was all smiles, and even donned an American flag, upon signing with the South Coast club. And while it’s uncertain when Adams will be fully healed from his hamstring injury and make his playing debut — he recently told the Bournemouth Echo that he hopes to return “very soon” — the 24-year-old from Wappingers Falls, N.Y. should be a perfect tactical fit under new Basque manager and former NYCFC Boss Andoni Iraola. At least that’s what The Athletic thinks.

By signing with Bournemouth, Adams also gets the chance to play for American owners Bill Foley and Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan. Foley, who also owns the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights, is known for a data-driven approach to squad building, which means this was not just a marketing-driven, sentimental signing by the Cherries. Adams was signed because he’s the right fit in midfield. The fact that he becomes the sixth 🇺🇸player in Bournemouth history is just the 🍒on top.

New Club, Who Dis?

A trio of USMNT stars got off to promising starts with their new clubs this past week. Sergiño Dest 🇳🇱 (22; Almere, NED) signed with PSV on a season-long loan on Monday, then started for them in their Champions League qualifier at Rangers on Tuesday. Normally a right back, Dest played on the left, going 81 minutes in the 2-2 draw, and put in a performance that drew praise from manager Peter Bosz. Dest also had this to say after the match about the loan from Barcelona: “For me this is not a step back at all, because I think we can go for the title with PSV.” 🙌

Tim Weah 🇮🇹 (23; Rosedale, NY) made his Juventus debut in a 3-0 win at Udinese on Sunday. Weah started at right wingback and subbed off at halftime, only to be replaced by USMNT teammate Weston McKennie 🇮🇹 (24; Little Elm, TX). Both put in very solid shifts for the Italian giants, who are expected to be in the Serie A title hunt this season.

Brenden Aaronson 🇩🇪 (22; Medford, NJ) started and played 76 minutes in his debut for Union Berlin, a 4-1 win over Mainz. Aaronson had a sublime backheel hockey assist on Union’s third goal (WATCH), and then received a standing ovation from the home fans after subbing off (WATCH). This has to be a welcome change for Aaronson after his up-and-down season at Elland Road.

ASU Tracker:

Dest, Weah, McKennie and Aaronson weren’t the only Americans Abroad putting in solid shifts in Europe this past week. After playing just nine minutes in Celta Vigo’s 2-0 season-opening loss to Osasuna, Luca de la Torre 🇪🇸 (25; San Diego, CA) started and went 84 minutes in Celta’s impressive 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad. Gaga Slonina 🇧🇪 (19; Addison, IL) started in goal in KAS Eupen’s 3-1 win at Kortrijk. To stay across all Americans Abroad updates during the weekend, be sure to follow our ASU Tracker on Twitter and Threads. Here’s Saturday’s version, and here’s Sunday.

News and Notes:

• Latest on Folarin Balogun 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (22; London, ENG): Just breaking this morning, Ligue 1 side Monaco and Balo have agreed personal terms, according to SkySports’ Dharmesh Sheth. Arsenal & Ligue 1 club now "close" to settling on fee for USMNT striker. Would another season in 🇫🇷, with the early league leader Monaco, be a good move for Balo? EMAIL US AND LET US KNOW. 

• Josh Sargent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; O’Fallon, MO) scored his second of the season for Norwich in their 3-1 win over Millwall on Sunday (WATCH). Sargent was also named to his second-straight EFL Championship Team of the Week. Will this form be enough to get him a call-up for the USMNT’s September friendlies? According to Fox Sports’ Doug McIntyre, we should find out on Aug. 30.

• Haji Wright 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (25; Los Angeles, CA) started and had an assist for Coventry City (WATCH) in the Sky Blues’ 1-1 draw at Swansea City. Another U.S. striker in the Championship in solid form who’s previously been in GGG’s good graces. Like Sargent, would seem to be another September friendlies option.

• Latest reports have Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (23; Birmingham, AL) potentially making a return to the Bundesliga, via a loan move to Stuttgart.

• Matt Turner 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (29; Park Ridge, NJ) started and had two saves in Nottingham Forest’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Watch the first here, and the second here. Congrats to Turner on his first complete-game Premier League win.

Parting Shots:

U.S. U20 defensive midfielder Lennard Maloney 🇩🇪 was part of history this past weekend, as the 23-year-old from Berlin who was born to an American father and a German mother, started and played 84 minutes in FC Heidenheim’s first-ever Bundesliga match at Wolfsburg on Saturday, a 2-0 loss. Maloney was instrumental in helping Heidenheim achieve promotion to the top flight last season, and would seem a likely starter for FCH’s first-ever home Bundesliga match on Saturday against John Brooks and Hoffenheim. Maloney fired up his IG recently; go hit him with a follow.