USMNT transfer news: Sergino Dest, Christian Pulisic, and others who could switch clubs during summer window 2022

With the summer transfer window in full swing, several U.S. international players are the subject of reports and speculation ahead of what could be a career-defining season that will include the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

That same World Cup will lead to an earlier start to the 2022-23 club season in August and a greater urgency for those with uncertain club futures to sort out their situations soon.

The USMNT players in the news include the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Sergino Dest. Other young players like Gabriel Slonina are being chased by top clubs even before they’re ready to be on the field for the senior national team.

With the transfer window only officially opening in June, a few deals involving Americans have already been completed, with Matt Turner and Brenden Aaronson completing moves to new English Premier League clubs.

MORE: Updated USMNT injury news as summer 2022 rolls along

USMNT player transfers in summer window 2022

Below is a list of the American players who have either officially completed deals to new clubs during this transfer window, or who have re-signed new contracts with their current clubs.

Completed deals

*Celtic made Cameron Carter-Vickers loan deal permanent 

Chris Richards: The American defender, after a number of loan spells at Bayern, has departed the Bavarian side and joined Premier League club Crystal Palace. It’s a fresh start for the 22-year-old where he will compete with Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen for playing time.

Matt Turner: The USMNT starting goalkeeper has parlayed his excellent MLS and national team performances into a move to one of England’s biggest teams. It’s a great opportunity for Turner, but also concerning from a playing time perspective prior to the World Cup.

Brenden Aaronson: The former Philadelphia Union winger performed well in the Champoions League last season, and used an American connection at Leeds to see out a transfer to the Premier League. There will be big expectations on Aaronson’s shoulders after the departure of Raphinha.

Tyler Adams: The midfielder followed Aaronson to Leeds, and will also have major expectations as he looks to replace Kalvin Phillips.

Zack Steffen: While Turner toils at Arsenal with playing time a concern, his main goalkeeping competitor Steffen has secured a loan to Championship side Middlesbrough in a hunt for coveted minutes. He is the supposed starter at Riverside Stadium after the departure of last season’s starting goalkeeper Joe Lumley.

Re-signed new contracts

MORE: Projecting the USMNT roster and starting lineup for the 2022 World Cup

Could Christian Pulisic leave Chelsea?

There is massive speculation, with two years left on his current Chelsea deal and a decrease in minutes last season under Thomas Tuchel, that Christian Pulisic could depart Stamford Bridge this summer.

The USMNT star has spent three seasons with the Blues, winning the Champions League title and the FIFA Club World Cup. Yet last season, Thomas Tuchel’s tactical preferences pushed Pulisic to the periphery, seeing him log just 2,207 minutes across all competitions, a low for Pulisic at Chelsea. He was often deployed out of position, playing central striker or wingback to fit Tuchel’s tactical setup.

UPDATE (Aug 15): After Pulisic failed to start the first two Chelsea matches of the Premier League season, transfer rumors have again begun to ramp up. Buried deep in an article by Jacob Steinburg of The Guardian was a line that Tuchel “doesn’t trust” Pulisic, leading to whispers of his discontent. David Ornstein of The Athletic then reported that Pulisic is a loan target for Newcastle.

UPDATE: (July 7): Pulisic was heavily featured as a model for the new Chelsea kit unveiled yesterday. That’s a good sign that the club expects him to be around this coming season.

UPDATE (June 22): According to CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs, Liverpool are considering the arrival of more attacking options, but Pulisic is no longer an option. “I am told it won’t be Pulisic,” Jacobs stated on social media.

UPDATE (June 6): According to Bild reporter Christian Falk, Liverpool are indeed monitoring Pulisic as a possible replacement for Sadio Mane. Pulisic is a former Borussia Dortmund player, and while he didn’t play under Jurgen Klopp in Germany, the two would certainly have a connection. Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, in its print edition and captured here, stated that Liverpool have been told the Reds would be successful with a bid of €60 million ($64m / £51.5m).

Sergino Dest to be shopped by Barcelona?

With Barcelona in a difficult financial position, the La Liga side may need to sell players to fund any desired incoming transfers this summer. American fullback Sergino Dest, who battled through injuries to make 21 appearances in league play in 2021-22, could be one of the players to make way for other arrivals.

Still just 21 years old and with three years left on his Barcelona contract, the club could make a pretty penny on Dest’s departure and still have cover for the right back position next year, should veteran Dani Alves return. While Dest has improved his defensive acumen during his time at Barcelona, his strength still lies in the attacking third and he could fit a wingback role well at a team with such a tactical setup.

UPDATE (Aug 14): Barcelona is expected to try to sell some players before the end of the transfer window, and it looks like Sergino Dest could be among them. The fullback has emerged as a target for Manchester United and the clubs are in negotiations, according to Ekrem Konur.

UPDATE (May 21): According to Spanish publication Marca, Dest is apparently in the shop window for a price of €25 million ($26.5m / £21m). While no links to other clubs have yet materialized, previous links to the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Roma could reemerge.

John Brooks seeking new club

While John Brooks has thus far been frozen out of the U.S. national team setup under Gregg Berhalter, his club future is also in question.

The former Wolfsburg defender is out of contract this summer and stated he will not return to the German club. Brooks played poorly in the first half of the 2021-22 season as Wolfsburg battled relegation and suffered group stage elimination in the UEFA Champions League. But he turned things around in the second half to help the club successfully stave off the drop.

UPDATE (Aug 2): With still no word on Brooks finding a new club, the USMNT defender was linked with MLS club San Jose Earthquakes on Twitter by Quakes writer Robert Jonas. It’s simply a social media rumor at this point, and serves more to point out how quiet the news has been on the Brooks front than anything else.

UPDATE (June 8): According to German publication Kicker (as passed on by Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae), Brooks has been in contact with Hoffenheim about possibly signing with the club. Hoffenheim finished ninth in the last Bundesliga season but had massive defensive issues, conceding 60 goals, third-most in the German top flight.

Weston McKennie unlikely to leave Juventus for PL club

After his 2021-22 season at Juventus was cut short by an ankle injury, Weston McKennie could potentially be shopped by the Italian club looking to push forward with a rebuild after missing out on every trophy this past campaign.

McKennie has grown into an everyday starter for the Serie A title contenders, and the 23-year-old still has three years left on his Juventus contract, so it would be difficult for a team to pry him loose. However, with Paul Pogba possibly on his way back to Juventus, McKennie could lose his place in the starting lineup, left to battle with Manuel Locatelli for a place alongside Pogba.

UPDATE (July 12): Speaking prior to his team’s preseason slate, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri stated that he is expecting Weston McKennie to stay at the club this season. “I think Weston McKennie will stay here at Juve this summer,” Allegri said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

UPDATE (May 29): According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, if Pogba were to arrive in Turin, McKennie could be shipped out. Tottenham, led by sporting director Fabio Paratici who brought McKennie to Juventus, is apparently monitoring the situation, with Antonio Conte identifying McKennie as a player suited for the Premier League.

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