The USMNT Transfer Notebook tracks American player movements, with latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool
The transfer window is officially open, and the games have begun. Negotiations are underway, clubs and agents are posturing and players are deciding their fate.
While some decisions go down to the wire, we already have one U.S. men's national team player on the move – Brandon Vazquez is moving to Austin FC. Who will be the next American player to solidify a transfer, either in Europe or North America?
Could it be Gio Reyna? It seems a market is still taking shape for the young midfielder, who could face more competition at Borussia Dortmund soon. Could it be Ricardo Pepi? Perhaps not, as it seems all involved will wait to see what sort of numbers make sense before making a decision to stay or go.
GOAL tracks all of the American player movements in the USMNT Transfer Notebook, a weekly feature covering the latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool.
Getty Images SportDoes Gio Reyna to Milan make sense?
Borussia Dortmund return from their winter break on Friday with a match against Bayer Leverkusen. In the meantime, they've been linked with Marcus Rashford in a move that would mirror a similar one to sign Jadon Sancho last season. Another attacker may soon be in the team, which is bad news for Gio Reyna.
It's still quiet when it comes to Reyna transfer rumors, although one big one has popped up. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Reyna could be a target of new Milan boss Sergio Conceicao. Milan has obviously become a haven for USMNT stars, and the thought of Reyna joining Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah in Italy is a fun one. Tactically, how would this move work, though?
It'll depend on how Conceicao views Reyna. Is he a winger competing with Christian Pulisic and Rafael Leao for a starting spot? Is he a No. 10 that can start centrally and allow Pulisic to thrive out wide? Or is he a No. 8, leaving him competing with a whole bunch of midfield options already in the Milan team?
A move to Milan would feel like Reyna trading one tough situation for another. Maybe Milan's circumstance will be different, but it's still not a guarantee. And the biggest thing Reyna needs is a guarantee of more playing time, wherever that is.
AdvertisementAFPPSV fighting to keep Ricardo Pepi
The offers are coming in hot for Ricardo Pepi, but can PSV actually find a way to keep him?
According to Eindhovens Dagblad, PSV are hoping to keep Pepi this winter, and their plan to do that is by giving him a new contract. That would obviously include a significant raise, one that would convince Pepi to remain with the club, at least for the short-term.
It'll be a tough decision, no doubt. Big bids have come in, although not quite big enough for PSV to be willing to move on from the American star. GOAL confirmed that a Premier League side made a $20.7 million bid for Pepi, while there has also been interest from one of the bigger teams in France. Those will certainly appeal to a player scoring goals for fun, like Pepi is.
Should Pepi stay or go? What are the numbers that will make sense for either side to commit? This is all just getting started, and why Pepi's transfer situation remains one to watch.
Getty'Wright' time for Premier League move?
HajiWright has been out of action for a while, but there are Premier League clubs willing to give him a chance to take a leap forward this January.
According to TBR Football, both Leicester City and Ipswich Town are interested in signing the American striker in January. Both are in the relegation zone, and both can use a boost in the form of extra goals. Wright is reportedly ready to make the move, and Coventry wouldn't be totally opposed to selling if they make a hefty profit on their original £8 million investment.
Wright scored 16 goals last season while providing seven assists for Coventry. He started well this season, too, scoring seven goals in 15 games before an ankle injury knocked him out for several months. It seems neither Leicester nor Ipswich are deterred by that, though.
Wright looks destined for a step up sooner or later. He's done plenty of good work in the Championship, which is usually a good way to earn a Premier League move. The question is if it's smart to take that leap to join relegation favorites with the hope of saving them, or wait until the summer and the stability of a full season?
For now, Wright just needs to get back to playing and sort things out from there.
GettyMLS an option for Alejandro Zendejas after Brandon Vazquez makes move
Both Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas find themselves in odd spots on the international level. Both are very useful players for the USMNT, offering different profiles and skillsets from others at their positions. Yet, both face a difficult path to legitimate minutes in time for the 2026 World Cup given the pure talent of their competitors.
We'll start with Vazquez, who has made his own move. The striker has signed with Austin FC, ending a year-long stay with Monterrey. His time in Mexico started well, with 10 goals across his first half-season, but it fizzled with just four goals during the Apertura.
He'll now head to an Austin FC side where he'll be the main man, but there are still doubts on whether that'll be enough from a USMNT perspective. Can Vazquez keep pace with the likes of Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent while in MLS? Is his physical profile enough to keep him involved as a change-of-pace option? Only Mauricio Pochetino knows but, either way, Vazquez will need to score if he wants to remain in this race – especially given what Pepi is doing in Europe.
As for Zendejas, GiveMeSport reported that Orlando City had a bid rejected by Club America. That comes fresh off Zendejas' starring role in Club America's trophy-winning triumph, making it even more ambitious. What would it say about the balance of power in the region if Orlando can pry away a star from Liga MX's best team?
From a USMNT POV, Zendejas' stock has never been higher. Could this be his best chance to head to Europe? He may not even want to but, with the winger set to turn 27 in February, this is certainly a career crossroads. Both are worth keeping an eye on going forward as moves to MLS could very well be the keys to their 2026 hopes.