From England to MLS: Mateusz Klich close to DC United; Ashley Westwood moves to Charlotte
Signings from England continue to arrive in the North American league for the 2023 campaign.
The most recent transfer window saw important football figures such as Gareth Bale, Lorenzo Insigne, Giorgio Chiellini and Federico Bernardeschi all arrive to MLS from across the pond, and it seems the moves from Europe to the US are not stopping any time soon. This January, when players across Europe pack their bags for mid-season changes of scenery, more deals are being done with an ever-growing sport in North America.
Mateusz Klich is close to DC United
Mateusz Klich, without doubt, has been one of the main players affected by the arrival of Jesse Marsch at Leeds United. After becoming not only one of the pillars of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United during the club’s rise to the Premier League but a cult hero for the fans, Klich has found himself on the fringes of a squad that is in purgatory between two different eras: he aims to sign with D.C. United, managed by Wayne Rooney.
Last Wednesday, January 4, the 32-year-old waved goodbye to the fans at Elland Road after the 2-2 draw against West Ham United; his arrival at the MLS is just a matter of time after his contract was mutually terminated with the English club. Klich won the Championship with Leeds United in the 2019-20 season and made 92 consecutive appearances for the club, finally missing a game due to a hangover from the title celebrations. In total he played for Leeds 194 times, 82 of them in the Premier League, scoring 5 and getting 7 assists in England’s top division.
Westwood to Charlotte
Ashley Westwood makes it a pair of English moves to MLS after signing for Charlotte FC. The 32-year-old midfielder will aim to help the Bank of America Stadium franchise play a bigger role than they managed in their debut campaign; this year, the playoffs are in their sights.
With his arrival in the MLS, the pivot that passed through Aston Villa between 2012 and 2017, will have his first experience outside of England after 14 years and 286 Premier League appearances, 23 Championship games and 123 League Two games.
With this step to try his luck in North America’s elite division, Westwood will join alongside Polish players Kamil Jozwiak, Karol Swiderski and Jon Sobocinski, the Croatian Kristijan Kahlina, the Portuguese Nuno Santos and his compatriots Anton Walkes and Nathan Byrne.
