The summer transfer window typically brings a sense of excitement and anticipation for football clubs and fans alike, as new players arrive and potential team dynamics are discussed. However, there’s another side to this coin. When we examine the club transfers made by American footballers, we can find brilliant examples that profoundly shaped the future of the U.S. Men`s National Team for the better—think of Christian Pulisic’s move to Borussia Dortmund or Clint Dempsey’s impactful transfer to Fulham. Yet, there’s also a considerable list of unsuccessful deals. It’s these latter cases that we’ll explore in this article. Which transfers stand out as the most detrimental in the careers of American soccer players? Brace yourselves, as this list is quite remarkable.
5. Sebastian Soto to Norwich City (2023)
Sebastian Soto`s transfer to Norwich was rather peculiar. While he was a talented player, this period coincided with stricter regulations for obtaining work permits in England. Soto moved on a free transfer from Hannover with the intention of being loaned out to qualify for an English work permit, which never materialized. After this setback, at just 20 years old, he has since played for four different clubs in four different countries and is currently without a club after his contract with Austria Klagenfurt expired. At only 24, there`s still time for his career to get back on track, but securing a permanent spot at Norwich could have significantly altered not only his own trajectory but also that of Josh Sargent, who also recently left Norwich.
4. Matt Turner to Arsenal (2022)
Following in the footsteps of Zack Steffen, who joined Manchester City as a backup, Matt Turner moved to Arsenal from the New England Revolution to become a secondary goalkeeper. On paper, this seemed a sensible step, as he was expected to get playing time in cup matches to maintain his form for the USMNT, with plenty of rotation anticipated. However, this didn`t happen. Turner only played a total of seven matches for Arsenal across the Europa League and FA Cup before subsequently transferring to Nottingham Forest, another unusual move. In fact, Turner could theoretically feature on this list three times, as since leaving the Revolution, he has only played 24 total professional games in England. It`s impressive that he has retained his starting spot for the USMNT despite such limited club appearances, but this situation could change by the 2026 World Cup if he doesn`t secure regular playing time.
3. Ricardo Pepi to Augsburg (2022)
Ricardo Pepi`s transfer from FC Dallas to the Bundesliga demonstrates that not all strange moves necessarily lead to career collapses, but this one was certainly unconventional, as he departed FC Dallas for a team in the relegation zone. During his time at Augsburg, he made 16 appearances before being loaned to FC Groningen. This loan spell proved successful enough to catch the attention of PSV, where Pepi has now been handed the number nine jersey and faces high expectations this season. This serves as a clear example of his drive to push through a challenging adaptation to Europe and emerge stronger from it.
2. Jozy Altidore to Sunderland (2013)
What if Jozy Altidore had never left the Netherlands? At the peak of his performance with AZ Alkmaar, Altidore made the move to the Premier League, joining Sunderland. In two years with the Black Cats, Altidore made 42 Premier League appearances, scoring a mere single goal, a stark contrast to his 50 goals in 93 appearances for AZ in the Dutch top flight. Altidore would eventually rediscover his best form with Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, but the Sunderland years were undeniably lost ones at a crucial juncture of his career.
1. Freddy Adu to Benfica (2007)
Freddy Adu burst onto the scene as the next great hope of American soccer, signing with D.C. United in 2004 at just 14 years old. That same year, he made his club debut, scored his first goal, and even participated in their 2004 MLS Cup victory. He grew into a starter with D.C. United before moving to Real Salt Lake, which then led to interest from Benfica. The Portuguese club paid $2.1 million for the midfielder, despite the U.S. U-20 coach at the time, Thomas Rongen, pleading with Adu’s agent not to make the move. This foreshadowed a period where Adu would make only 21 appearances for the club, be loaned out four times, and fail to establish himself before returning to MLS to join the Philadelphia Union in 2011. Adu played 41 matches for the Union, scoring 10 goals, but from 2004 to 2018, he bounced around the world, playing for 13 clubs in nine different countries. It was a profoundly disappointing career for a player who was so highly touted at such a young age.
