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Transfer deadline day: Every key USMNT player that changed clubs during European window
United States

Transfer deadline day: Every key USMNT player that changed clubs during European window

Updated Sep. 1, 2023 6:29 p.m. ET

There are more Americans in Europe's top five leagues than ever before. 

As a result, there were more high-profile player movement in the United States men's national team player pool during the summer transfer window.

Here are the biggest USMNT players that secured moves before the transfer window closed on Friday.

Christian Pulisic: Chelsea to AC Milan

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Chelsea agreed to transfer Pulisic to American-owned AC Milan, the team announced on July 13. Pulisic signed a four-year deal with the club, with the Rossoneri retaining the option for a further season.

AC Milan reportedly paid less than a third of what Chelsea paid Borussia Dortmund for Pulisic in 2019. The 24-year-old midfielder-forward left the London club with a year left on his contract after struggling with injuries during his time there.

Lyon was also in the mix at one point, but Pulisic preferred a move to Milan, where he'll play in the UEFA Champions League. He's set to become the third American to play for the Rossoneri after Oguchi Onyewu and Sergiño Dest.

Folarin Balogun: Arsenal to AS Monaco

Arsenal agreed to transfer Balogun, the USMNT's star striker, to Ligue 1 club AS Monaco for a transfer fee of $43.4 million. It was previously reported that Arsenal wanted $63 million for the 22-year-old striker, who scored 21 goals in Ligue 1 while on loan with Reims last season.

Sergiño Dest: Barcelona to PSV (loan)

Sergiño Dest was loaned to PSV for the season after failing to earn a spot in Xavi's squad rotation at FC Barcelona. The loan includes a non-mandatory purchase option worth $10.8 million, according to Fabrizio Romano.

At PSV, Dest will play alongside fellow USMNT players Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tllman. Dest, 22, was born in the Netherlands and played for Ajax, PSV's rival, at the youth and senior levels.

Tyler Adams: Leeds United to Bournemouth

Bournemouth agreed to pay a transfer fee of $29 million to bring on 24-year-old USMNT defensive midfielder Adams.

The New York native previously played with the New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig before joining Leeds last offseason. He made 26 appearances with Leeds before undergoing hamstring surgery following a season-ending injury in March.

Leeds finished in 19th place last season and was relegated to the EFL Championship, which gave Adams an out, as his contract featured a relegation release clause allowing him to be bought out of his contract for $25.5 million.

Matt Turner: Arsenal to Nottingham Forest

The Premier League side has officially signed the USMNT goalkeeper to a four-year deal, the club announced on Aug. 9.

Turner joined storied EPL club Arsenal in June 2022, where he served as a backup to Aaron Ramsdale. Prior to that, he earned 108 appearances for the New England Revolution between 2016-22, a run that included him being named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021.

With 14 shutouts, Turner leads all USMNT goalkeepers for most clean sheets through their first 20 caps.

Yunus Musah: Valencia to AC Milan

USMNT midfielder Musah and the Serie A club agreed on a five-year contract, the club announced on Aug. 4. 

Musah, who won't take up one of the non-EU slots on Milan's roster, was moved for a fee of roughly $21.9 million and will wear No. 80 for his new club.

Musah has played 27 games with the USMNT, including all four games at the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup in Qatar.

Tim Weah: Lille to Juventus

Weah joined the Serie A side on a roughly $14 million transfer fee from Ligue 1 club Lille. Weah plays as a winger for the USMNT, but Juventus reportedly see him as a long-term solution wingback. Weah also played wingback for Lille last season.

Weah joined his USMNT teammate Weston McKennie at Juventus. The Italy-based club finished seventh in Serie A after being penalized 10 points for false accounting. Without the deduction, they would have finished third and qualified for the Champions League.

Ricardo Pepi: Augsburg to PSV

After a successful loan spell at FC Groningen, Pepi was been transferred from Ausburg to PSV Eindhoven. Ausburg paid FC Dallas $20 million for Pepi in January 2022, which is still the highest transfer fee a European club has paid for an American MLS player. Pepi, 20, was not on the USMNT's 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup roster.

In all competitions last season, Pepi recorded 12 goals and three assists for the last-placed Groningen. Ausburg, meanwhile, finished 15th in the Bundesliga, just a point shy of relegation. PSV finished second in the Eredivisie and will play in the Champions League next season.

Brenden Aaronson: Leeds to Union Berlin

Aaronson shared on July 9 that he joined Union Berlin, which finished fourth in the Bundesliga and will play in the Champions League next season, on loan.

The 22-year-old joined Leeds last summer for a transfer fee of $30 million, and while he started his Premier League career on the right foot, his role diminished as Leeds changed managers and started piling up losses. 

Aaronson tallied two goals and three assists in 36 appearances for Leeds last season.

Jordan Pefok: Union Berlin to Borussia Mönchengladbach (loan)

Pefok has joined Borussia Mönchengladbach on loan from Union Berlin, the team's Bundesliga rival. Mönchengladbach retains an option to make the transfer permanent once the season is over. He scored five times in 44 competitive games for Union.

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