What USMNT players are on the move to Europe in the 2022-2023 season?

Sergiño Dest appears to be set to stay at FC Barcelona this season having been included in Xavi Hernández’s squad for the US tour and getting some pitch time in the friendlies the Camp Nou outfit have played to date against Inter Miami, Real Madrid and Juventus. The US international had been largely frozen out of the first team picture following the return of Xavi to Catalonia as coach of the team but has been gradually working his way back into the legendary midfielder’s plans. Xavi has proven himself more than willing to let water pass under the bridge, not least in his impressive man-management of Ousmane Dembélé, who was on the verge of being kicked out of the club last January but has now returned to form, repaying his manager’s faith with some excellent performances at the tail end of last season and two sensational goals in the Juventus friendly.

While Dest will apparently not be moving on this summer, there has been plenty of transfer action among his USMNT teammates, with several landing big-money moves ahead of the World Cup in November. Here we take a look at some of the most eye-catching.

Brenden Aaronson: RB Salzburg to Leeds United

Towards the end of last season Aaronson was constantly linked with a move to Leeds, which was perfectly logical as Elland Road boss Jesse Marsch had previously worked with him at Salzburg. There was only one small hold-up: Marsch first had to keep Leeds up. With their Premier League status secured, the former MLS midfielder sanctioned a move worth in the region of €30m for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who has 22 senior international caps to his name already.

Tyler Adams: RB Leipzig to Leeds United

Another move that had been in the pipeline for some time as Marsch went back to another of his former clubs, RB Leipzig, in search of more Red Bull-based oomph on his wings. Adams will be familiar to Atlético Madrid fans as it was the 23-year-old who scored the winner in the Champions League quarterfinals during the Lisbon mini-tournament in 2020 to send Leipzig into a first Champions League semifinal. Another young but experienced player, Adams has 30 senior caps for the US and joined Leeds for a fee of around €24m.

Matt Turner: New England Revolution to Arsenal

Mikel Arteta has been busy in the transfer market this summer and the Gunners elected to snap up the 28-year-old keeper for around €10m. Turner has cemented his place in the USMNT side after a stunning CONCACAF Gold Cup involving five clean sheets in six games and arrives in London as the reigning MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. He will be expected to compete with Bernd Leno and Aaron Ramsdale for the starting spot at the Emirates, but has not been brought to the club simply to watch.

Cameron Carter-Vickers: Tottenham to Celtic

The right move, at the right time, for Cater-Vickers and for the USMNT. The 24-year-old central defender came through the academy at Spurs but never made a league appearance for the Premier League side, being farmed out on no fewer than seven to mainly Championship sides before finding a home north of the border at Celtic. Carter-Vickers made 33 SPL starts last season and trebled his career tally of goals to six as Celtic pulled off a league and cup double. The Scottish side had no hesitation in meeting Spurs’ asking price of an initial €7m plus around another €5m in add-ons, and Carter-Vickers also found his way back into the USMNT with three caps so far in 2022 having earned only one since 2018 before landing at Celtic Park.

Zack Steffen: Manchester City to Middlesbrough

Another no-brainer in a World Cup year: Turner’s 18 appearances for the USMNT since the start of 2021 have restricted Steffen to just 10 over the same period and the 27-year-old, who spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf is hardly likely to shift Ederson from between the City sticks any time soon with Scott Carson and Stefan Ortega also providing competition as Pep Guardiola’s back-up. A loan move to Boro will give him much-needed game time and ensure his place on the plane for Qatar.

Shaq Moore: CD Tenerife to Nashville SC

It’s been a bit of ride for Shaq Moore, who came through at FC Dallas via the IMG Academy before finding himself in Spain’s third tier in 2014 at Huracán, following trials at Valencia and Levante. He then moved to the Ciutat de Valencia and made a handful of senior appearances before dropping back down a division with Tenerife. He still has 15 senior US caps to his name though, 10 of them earned since 2021. A move to Nashville may provide the continuity the full back needs and, like Steffen, ensure that he remains under the watchful eye of Gregg Berhalter.