It’s almost August, which means that the summer transfer window is in full swing. Rumors are flying, and players are certainly going to be angling for themselves to shine as bright as possible ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For a good chunk of the USMNT player pool, that means pushing for a move to a new club.
I honestly can’t remember a more active transfer window for American players. We’ve already seen several eight-figure deals completed, and there could be more on the horizon. These moves are make-or-break when it comes to their chances to be in the World Cup squad, so it’s no surprise quite a few guys have moved onto new clubs.
From the USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino’s perspective, these transfers have the potential to define the make-up of next year’s World Cup team. Players could go to new clubs and show attributes we haven’t seen before (for better or worse). For some, consistent playing time could be all they need to show that they belong. Either way, it’s not hard to understand why this summer is so important for the national team.
Let’s take a look at deals that have been completed so far.
Malik Tillman from PSV to Bayer Leverkusen – $41M
Tillman was incredibly productive in his two seasons at PSV, notching 25 goals and 19 assists in 74 appearances across all competitions.
However, this move represents a significant step up. Leverkusen has quickly evolved into a club that should be competing to win every competition it plays in, and first-year manager Erik ten Hag hand-picked Tillman as the direct replacement for Liverpool mega-signing Florian Wirtz.
If Tillman overcomes that pressure and immediately fills that void at Leverkusen, it would be nearly impossible for him not to be one of the first names on Pochettino’s World Cup team sheet. However, his status not just in the starting XI but the squad as a whole could be thrown in doubt with a poor season.
Don’t get me wrong. I think Tillman is a solid player. We just haven’t really seen anything from him on the international stage that would justify the $40M+ price tag. I hope he proves me wrong, because a full-form Tillman would answer a major question for the USMNT.
Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis to Atletico Madrid – $28M
Initially, I was a bit skeptical that this was the right move for Cardoso. Atletico Madrid is a massive club, sure, but I didn’t exactly see a clear path to consistent playing time there.
However, with Rodrigo de Paul on his way to Inter Miami, there is an open role in the Atletico midfield all of a sudden. If Cardoso can snatch it and become a regular in the Spanish capital, that would be a massive development for the USMNT.
The remaining question is whether Cardoso is good enough to take on that sort of role. The numbers would suggest he is. In over 2,000 minutes of La Liga play for Real Betis, he managed an average match rating of 6.9 with three goals and one assist. For a defensive-minded midfielder, that’s not a bad return at all. Most importantly, he averaged over 1.5 interceptions per match and has a strong aerial record. There’s certainly a player in there.
I also have a lot of trust in Diego Simeone’s ability to develop young talent. At 23, Cardoso is nowhere near a finished product. If he goes to Atletico and takes a significant step forward in his development, it wouldn’t surprise me if Cardoso starts pushing some USMNT regulars for a starting spot in the midfield.
Patrick Agyemang from Charlotte to Derby County – $8M
Meh. I don’t know about this one.
Ordinarily, I’d be thrilled for an American player moving from MLS to the English Championship. Unlike Charlotte manager Dean Smith, I believe that league is a step up in competition and a major opportunity.
However, Derby isn’t exactly a prime destination at the moment. The Rams only just returned to the Championship from League One last year, and top scorer Jerry Yates only managed 10 goals in all competitions. That screams to me a real lack of service from the rest of the team. Not exactly a good environment for a striker.
$8 million is also an absurd amount for a club in Derby’s position to be spending, so there’s a ton of pressure. Not to mention the fact that Yates was only on loan last season and is unlikely to return. Agyemang is stepping into an unfamiliar situation and being asked to lead the line immediately. If he fails to produce, it could directly lead to relegation.
The cherry on top is that I don’t think Agyemang is that good. His scoring record in MLS isn’t all that notable – 17 goals in 59 MLS appearances. Additionally, his performances for the USMNT this summer were atrocious. He really struggled with the ball at his feet, and he looked like a headless chicken anytime he had a scoring chance.
This move has to work for Agyemang to assert himself as an option for the World Cup. Unfortunately, his lackluster abilities combined with Derby’s current situation make me seriously doubt that the move will be fruitful.
Damion Downs from 1.FC Koln to Southampton – $9.5M
Agyemang isn’t the only forward hopeful that will be plying his trade in the Championship. Downs’s move from Germany to England represents a significant opportunity, as well as a significant investment.
Unlike Agyemang’s situation, I actually think this move could prove meaningful for the USMNT in a good way. Southampton is coming off relegation from the Premier League and will be looking to go right back up. At the top end of the Championship, Downs could get some legitimate battle hardening prior to next summer. He’ll have to earn his minutes, but a nearly-$10M fee suggests the Saints expect him to produce immediately.
Downs didn’t really show me a whole lot this summer for the USMNT, but with a decent Southampton team around him that should be one of the Championship’s best, he certainly has potential to show us something else. He’s probably not quite at the level required to lead the line. However, with a good season in England, Downs could easily force his way into Pochettino’s plans.
Caleb Wiley from Chelsea to Watford – Loan
Wiley is probably a bit off the USMNT radar at this point. But given the options and injury history of the regular options at left back, Wiley has a good chance to get back into the picture with a good 25/26 season.
He showed a pretty good amount of ability by becoming a Championship regular for the Hornets this past season. A strong defender with decent ball skills and passing ability, Wiley feels like a Pochettino-esque option. I personally like his profile a bit more than the current USMNT regular backups Max Arfsten and John Tolkin.
However, Wiley will probably need to significantly out-perform those two this season to have any shot at making the team. At a middling Championship club, it might be difficult to make a strong enough mark.
George Campbell from CF Montreal to West Brom – $1.5M
You might be noticing a theme. If you’re a serious USMNT fan, you should definitely be watching the English Championship. These four join a solid group of Americans already in the league, such as Josh Sargent and Aidan Morris.
It’s unclear what sort of role West Brom expects Campbell to play. He’s likely being brought in to provide immediate backup cover with potential for development, so I don’t have a ton of immediate expectations. However, center back is fairly undetermined for the USMNT outside of Chris Richards, so there are spots up for grabs. Campbell could come out of left field with a decent season and grab a spot in next summer’s team.
Again, to make it clear. I’m not holding out a ton of hope for this one in the immediate, but I’ll be keeping an eye on it.
Youth Talent That Could Come From Nowhere
Two USMNT youth players have made significant developments this summer that are worth mentioning.
Defender Noahkai Banks recently signed a new deal with Augsburg and will compete for regular playing time in the Bundesliga. The 18-year-old Hawaiian managed eight appearances in the German top flight last season, and a more consistent role could lead to serious consideration from the USMNT.
Goalkeeper Julian Eyestone was recently promoted from the youth program at Brentford to the senior team. Eyestone is by no means guaranteed any sort of meaningful playing time, but the current state of the position with the USMNT is just as rocky. Even if it’s a slight chance, there’s still a possibility Eyestone could be considered when all is said and done.
As for rumors, that’s just what they are. Rumors. I’m disappointed that Josh Sargent’s move to Wolfsburg didn’t work out, and I’d love to see Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, and Yunus Musah get moves to more stable playing situations. If and when those moves become official, we’ll discuss them here.
Follow Nick Hedges on Twitter (@nicktrimshedges) or Instagram (@nicktrimshedges)