Several of the team’s top stars made massive moves, giving them the opportunity to further their careers at club level, while others on the outside looking in with the USMNT took big steps of their own in an attempt to battle their way into Gregg Berhalter’s Copa America player pool. With the 2022 World Cup firmly in the rearview mirror, players had the freedom to take risks. Some worked out. Others? Not so much.
By and large, most of the USMNT’s top stars did quite alright for themselves during the two most recent transfer windows. There were a few, though, that now find themselves at a major crossroads after whiffing on their big swing.
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There’s still time to fix those misses, and who knows how long this season’s hits will keep hitting. Either way, we’ll look back at this season as a massive one for the USMNT as several stars made career-altering decisions…
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Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) Every USMNT Transfer from the 2023
No doubt about this one; Christian Pulisic was one of the signings of the season not just for the USMNT, but for all of Europe.
The American became a Serie A superstar this season, emerging as one of Italian soccer’s most dangerous forwards. He was AC Milan’s second-leading goal contributor and looks ready to thrive for years to come after finally putting that Chelsea mess behind him.
Verdict? Hit
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Getty ImagesGio Reyna (Nottingham Forest)
A nightmare, to say the least. Gio Reyna never got going at Nottingham Forest as he played just 230 minutes during his loan spell. His time at the City Ground couldn’t end soon enough, as Reyna now heads back to Borussia Dortmund in no better position than where he started.
What comes next? To be determined, but it’s safe to say that Reyna didn’t advance his career at all during his short Premier League star.
Verdict? Miss
GettyYunus Musah (AC Milan)
Yunus Musah wasn’t always in Milan’s starting XI, but the young midfielder got plenty of run. From big starts in the Champions League to important Serie A minutes, Musah saw enough of the field to make this first season a success.
The 21-yar-old still has plenty of developing to do, but he isn’t in over his head at San Siro. He’ll look to claim a starting spot going forward, but this was a good debut season for a player who is well on his way to the top.
Verdict? Hit
Getty ImagesMalik Tillman (PSV)
This season was a big test for Malik Tillman, and he passed with flying colors. He proved himself with Rangers last season, but a loan move to PSV from Bayern Munich was a step up, and Tillman thrived, contributing to a combined 20 goals in all competitions.
PSV were quick to make the move permanent, giving Tillman a second season to develop in the Eredivisie before a potential future move up the food chain.
Verdict? Hit
GettySergino Dest (PSV)
The season ended on a sour note with a brutal ACL tear but, before that, Sergino Dest was a revelation. A return to the Eredivisie, where he originally broke through with Ajax, was exactly what Dest needed, and after a few tough years at Barcelona, Dest rediscovered himself at PSV.
Unfortunately, he’s now in limbo due to his injury, but whenever and wherever he comes back, he’ll be in a better place than he was before his loan spell.
Verdict? Hit
GettyRicardo Pepi (PSV)
The third and final member of the PSV trio is the only one that wasn’t an overwhelming success. Ricardo Pepi did well when given the chance, but chances were few and far between due to the successes of starting No.9 Luuk de Jong. The Dutch star’s avalanche of goals kept Pepi out of the XI, despite the big goals he scored off the bench throughout the season.
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Pepi will need more minutes, either at PSV or elsewhere, next season. This was a step forward, but not the leap forward many would have expected, through little fault of his own.
Verdict? Hit
Getty ImagesFolarin Balogun (Monaco)
It’s easy to see this being a hit someday, but this first season at Monaco didn’t go well for Folarin Balogun. After scoring 21 goals for Reims last season, Balogun scored just seven this time around at a much bigger club. The departure of Wissam Ben Yedder this summer could lead to more chances for the American, but overall, this debut campaign was a disappointment.
Verdict? Miss
Getty ImagesTyler Adams (Bournemouth)
It’s really, really hard to grade this one… Injuries kept Tyler Adams out all year long, limiting him to just a few minutes for Bournemouth. He looked good in those minutes, but the USMNT captain effectively missed the Cherries’ entire Premier League season.
When healthy, Adams is fantastic, and all involved will hope he’s healthy heading into next season.
Verdict? Incomplete
GettyTim Weah (Juventus)
Whether as a starter or as a substitute, Tim Weah was always there for Juventus this season. He started the season as the go-to left-wingback, but an injury saw him lose the spot a few months in.
He never really regained his place, but he played plenty, providing a crucial Coppa Italia semifinal assist to help Juve finish the season with a trophy. Overall, it was solid but not spectacular.
Verdict? Hit
Getty ImagesJohnny Cardoso (Real Betis)
One of the USMNT’s big winners of the season, Johnny Cardoso stepped right into the Real Betis XI in January and never came close to looking back. Instead, he established himself as one of the club’s best players in La Liga, helping run the midfield from the moment he arrived.
It was a huge leap forward for the midfielder, who previously went somewhat under the radar in Brazil at Internacional. No longer: Cardoso has arrived.
Verdict? Hit
GettyMatt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
Not as bad as Reyna’s time with the club, but Matt Turner didn’t exactly have a good experience at Forest, either. The USMNT No.1 was the starter for the first half of the season but had to deal with his share of blunders.
By January, Forest was ready to move on, and they did, relegating Turner to backup duties. It wasn’t the plan that anyone had for this move, and it could lead to another this summer to get Turner back onto the field.
Verdict? Miss
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Haji Wright (Coventry City) Every USMNT Transfer from the 2023
What a season it was for Haji Wright. The forward scored 16 Championship goals for Coventry City and assisted seven more, proving himself as a player that can create danger either centrally or out wide.
He’s made himself undeniable in the USMNT race, which was the best-case scenario for this move.
Verdict? Hit
GettyAuston Trusty (Sheffield United)
On one hand, it was an ugly year for Sheffield United. On the other, it wasn’t so bad for Auston Trusty.
The defender got a valuable season of Premier League experience under his belt as the Blades endured a rough campaign. They’ll head back to the Championship, but Trusty will be better after having this opportunity.
It may not be enough to get him onto the Copa America roster, unfortunately for him, but Trusty has already overcome plenty of adversity since making his move to Europe.
Verdict? Hit
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Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin)
It got a bit better towards the end but, for a while there, this didn’t go well. Brenden Aaronson went to the Bundesliga on loan following Leeds’ relegation, but he never quite got going, much like Union Berlin this season.
Towards the end, he started to find some form but, by then, it was already too late to really make this season a success. Back to the drawing board for Aaronson, who has a lot to figure out going forward.
Verdict? Miss
Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse) Every USMNT Transfer from the 2023
Vitesse were hit with the hammer this season in the form of a historic points deduction. That’s unfortunate for them, but not for Paxten Aaronson, who made the most of a loan spell to the Dutch side before leaving the chaos behind.
Aaronson scored four goals in just 14 appearances, taking advantage of much-needed playing time after failing to break through at Eintracht Frankfurt. He’ll be in a better position to do so next season thanks to some important minutes in the Eredivisie.
Verdict? Hit
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Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City)
He wasted the first half of the season buried at Forest, but Ethan Horvath certainly made the most of the second half. The goalkeeper joined Cardif City in January and went on to play 16 matches for the club down the stretch.
For Horvath, playing time is key, particularly if he wants to remain around the USMNT picture, so the move to Wales was a good one in that regard.
Verdict? Hit
Getty ImagesKristoffer Lund (Palermo) Every USMNT Transfer from the 2023
Kristoffer Lund is one of the USMNT’s newer players, and his introduction to the national team came at the same time as an introduction to a new club.
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Lund was ever-present for Palermo this season, featuring 36 times in all competitions as they reached the playoffs, even if that ended in heartbreak.
Verdict? Hit
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Gaga Slonina (Eupen) Every USMNT Transfer from the 2023
Just 20, Gaga Slonina is in need of seasoning. The potential is there, as is the drive… the only thing missing is experience.
He got plenty this season on loan from Chelsea, who sent him off to Belgium to play for Eupen. The ex-Chicago Fire star started 33 games for the club, getting games under his belt that will help massively when he takes his inevitable next step.
Verdict? Hit