USMNT Transfer Grades: Pulisic, Balogun Get Top Marks for New Homes

It was a summer of change for many of the U.S.’s stars. Which players found the right landing spots?

It was a summer of change for the USMNT, following up a Concacaf Nations League title and a disappointing semifinal loss to Panama at the Gold Cup. No, we’re not talking about the manager—Gregg Berhalter has returned to his post after months of uncertainty. But many of the players set to feature in Berhalter’s squad for the upcoming slate of friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman (and beyond) were on the move to a new club this summer.

Here’s a look at the biggest transfer decisions among the USMNT contingent from the recently-closed summer window.

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Christian Pulisic: Chelsea to AC Milan (€20 million)

One of several Americans to say “Ciao!” to Serie A this summer, Pulisic desperately needed a move away from Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old has shown his quality in spurts, but injuries relegated him to an inconsistent role over the last several years. It also didn’t help that owner Todd Boehly has tried to corner the global market on wingers, bringing in six over the last three transfer windows.

AC Milan has everything a young star looking to prove himself could want: world-class teammates, passionate fans, opportunities in big games. And he’s already shown himself to be up for the challenge, scoring in each of his first two Serie A matches. Benvenuto, Christian.

Grade: A

Matt Turner: Arsenal to Nottingham Forest (€8.2 million)

It was somewhat of a risk when Turner moved from his nailed-on starting role with the New England Revolution to be the second-choice goalkeeper at Arsenal just months before the 2022 World Cup. But Turner’s gamble paid off, as he got the starting nod for the USMNT, and he has now parlayed that move into a transfer to another Premier League side.

Turner was never going to be the No. 1 in north London—Arsenal showed its confidence (or lack thereof) in its goalkeeping depth when it grabbed Brentford’s David Raya on loan. At Forest, Turner has an opportunity to be the starter in net in the most competitive league in the world. It’ll also be a proving ground behind a relatively leaky defense—the club shipped the fourth-most goals in the Premier League last season.

Grade: B+

Tim Weah was one of the first USMNT players to make a summer move, joining Italian giant Juventus :: IMAGO/Aflosport

Timothy Weah: Lille to Juventus (€12 million, per reports)

Weah’s World Cup performance, then just 22 years old, seemed to signal his career as a forward was on an upward trajectory. Yet he returned to Lille and played out the rest of the season as a right back. Enter Juventus, a team in need of a facelift after false accounting charges and an aging squad turned last season into a disaster.

Is Weah a winger? Is he a fullback? His new club seems to think he’s both, playing him in a wingback role behind a pair of forwards. The move to one of the world’s biggest clubs is admirable, and there’s clearly a path to consistent starts for Weah. Joining during a time of overhaul may not be ideal (especially when he’s playing out of position), but it’s a good next step in what looks to be a promising young career.

Grade: B

Folarin Balogun: Arsenal to Monaco (€30 million)

The USMNT’s new No. 9 exploded onto the scene in Ligue 1 last season on loan with Reims, scoring 21 league goals. Now, the 22-year-old is officially saying goodbye to his boyhood club to go jumpstart his career on the French Riviera.

Several of the world’s biggest clubs, including Chelsea and Inter Milan, were reportedly interested in the young striker. But Monaco is a club with vast resources and massive support, where the expectation is that he’ll have time to grow into one of the world’s best at his position. It’s also in a league where he already proved himself to be a preternatural goalscorer. Look for Balogun’s stock to continue to skyrocket.

Grade: A-

Weston McKennie: Stays at Juventus

If the failed “Leeds USA” project needed a poster boy, it’s probably McKennie. The 25-year-old didn’t exactly endear himself to fans in a poor loan spell that ended with the club’s relegation back to the Championship. He returned to Turin and a permanent move away appeared to be imminent, but McKennie ended up staying.

He needed a fresh start after his time with the Italian giants had seemingly soured. Instead, he’ll be competing for minutes this season with Weah, as he’s slotted in as a wingback in his only appearances so far this season.

Grade: C+

Yunus Musah: Valencia to AC Milan (€20 million)

Musah joined the new USMNT hub in Italy after a strong showing last season at Valencia and an even better one at the World Cup. He’ll bring sharp decision-making and progression skills to a Milan team that has a new-look midfield without Sandro Tonali.

It’s worth noting that Musah is still just 20 years old—it’s not often that players at this age are getting starts at title-contending clubs. He will likely play a more rotational role this season, but this is a move that could pay dividends in future seasons if he continues to develop at a high rate.

Grade: B

Ricardo Pepi: Augsburg to PSV (€10 million)

Pepi’s leap over the pond from FC Dallas to Bundesliga side Augsburg couldn’t have gone much worse initially. He didn’t score once in 15 league appearances for the club, then left on loan for Dutch club Groningen just months before the 2022 World Cup. He wasn’t selected to the U.S. squad despite a strong start in the Eredivisie that saw him finish with 12 goals on the season.

Now he’s back in the Netherlands, with a chance to prove he can indeed be a No. 9 in a top European league. At just 20 years old, he gets the same leeway Musah gets—he’ll likely be backing up seasoned vet Luuk de Jong.

Grade: B

After missing out on the World Cup, Pepi is back on the USMNT roster for this week’s friendlies :: IMAGO/GEPA Pictures

Brenden Aaronson: Leeds to Union Berlin (Loan)

Union Berlin is the modern soccer hipster’s dream. The club rose to the first-tier Bundesliga for the first time in 2019 on the backs of a rabid fanbase. A dream season last year saw it reach the Champions League, and now it’s retooling for more.

Aaronson needed to be playing in the first division somewhere after Leeds’s relegation. This will give him a chance to play for one of Germany’s up-and-coming clubs—and in the Champions League, where Union drew Real Madrid, Napoli and Braga in the group stage. Aaronson adds the kind of attacking thrust that this club could use when competing against the giants of Europe and Germany.

Grade: B+

Tyler Adams: Leeds to Bournemouth (€26.9 million)

The final piece of the misshapen Leeds puzzle, Adams was actually one of the team’s most consistent performers until injury sidelined him for the last 10 matches of the season. He’ll likely be in the relegation battle once again with Bournemouth, who finished just five points above the drop and allowed more goals than all but two teams last season.

It’s just a slight disappointment that Adams ended up at Bournemouth after reported interest from clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea fell through. But it’s Premier League soccer, and he’ll have a tall task ahead providing cover for a defense that’s allowed eight goals in four matches.

Grade: B-

Sergiño Dest: Barcelona to PSV (Loan)

It’s been clear for a while now that Dest is simply not in the plans of Barcelona manager Xavi. A move away from the Camp Nou, even if temporary, was entirely necessary. Now, he’ll get to play for a side that will likely allow him to utilize his attacking and dribbling talent—and he’ll still get to play in the Champions League.

Grade: B+

Others:

Gaga Slonina (Loan from Chelsea to K.A.S. Eupen): B+

Zack Steffen (Stays at Manchester City): C-

Auston Trusty (Arsenal to Sheffield United): C

Malik Tillman (Loan from Bayern Munich to PSV): B

Haji Wright (Antalyaspor to Coventry City): B

Chris Richards (Stays at Crystal Palace): C

Bryan Reynolds (Roma to Westerlo): B