The USMNT Transfer Notebook tracks American player movements, with latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool
The January transfer window is over, and we're only now starting to understand the ramifications. Several players are in new homes. Others remain where they once were but, even now, eyes are already on what might happen in the summer.
We're at the point in the cycle, from a USMNT perspective, in which everything needs to be viewed through a World Cup lens. Every transfer will directly impact hopes for 2026. Every big game, every injury, every decision. Several key Americans will have decisions to make this summer. Several others already made theirs in the winter.
It seems that two key U.S. men's national team stars aren't going anywhere, though. Both Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are reportedly set to be offered new deals at their respective clubs, AC Milan and Juventus. Both have earned them. Pulisic and McKennie have been fantastic this season, proving themselves among the best at their positions (although, in McKennie's case, it's hard to be sure what that is).
Even so, there's plenty to examine on the transfer front, from lingering winter storylines, injury heartbreaks and early question marks. GOAL tracks all of the American player movements in the USMNT Transfer Notebook, a regular feature covering the latest developments for those in the U.S. national team pool.
GettyNew Christian Pulisic contract on the way?
Social media went into panic mode Sunday over to a report out of Italy. It revealed that Christian Pulisic would be benched against Hellas Verona after a less-than-stellar Champions League performance against Feyenoord.
No reason to panic, though. Pulisic is as important as ever to Milan, which is why reports continue to swirl that he's set to be rewarded with a new contract soon that will keep him with the club through 2029.
At the moment, Pulisic's biggest need is rest. He's survived several injury scares this season and, with the business end of Milan's campaign coming up, the team needs him to be fit and in-form. need him more for that second leg against Feyenoord more than they needed him in the XI against Hellas Verona, which ended up a 1-0 win with the American coming off the bench.
Pulisic is happy at Milan. Milan are clearly thrilled with Pulisic. It makes plenty of sense for him to stay. Milan's Serie A standing could impact that, of course, particularly if the club misses out on Europe altogether next season but, at the moment, there's no reason to really separate a superstar player from the club that has helped him reach these new heights.
AdvertisementAFPWeston McKennie earns his new deal
Speaking of new contracts for American stars, it seems Weston McKennie may be nearing one of his own. Who would have seen this coming just a few months ago?
For each of the last two summers, Juventus seemingly did everything they could to move on from the American midfielder. He looked set to leave both times but stayed and fought. Now, he looks set to be rewarded for that fight with a new deal, with reports out of Italy saying he'll sign a new deal through 2028 with a big pay bump.
It makes plenty of sense for Juve to tie him down. Thiago Motta loves him, and he made it known this week.
"Weston is special. He is a great player, a great guy," Motta said "He has played fullback, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger. He's a top-level player. When I say that a top-level player can play everywhere, it’s because I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been in football for many years. When you ask where players should play, it’s not something that concerns me.
"Weston plays everywhere, and he has to be on the field. It’s hard for me to leave him out. Maybe not as a goalkeeper, but in every other position, it’s difficult to put him on the bench. That’s what being a top-level player means.”
McKennie finally has a coach who believes in him. Motta has a star that he can rely on no matter which position he plays. It's all going well at the moment, which felt so unlikely earlier in the season. McKennie can now focus on being a legitimate cornerstone of Motta' Juventus project.
Getty Images SportJames Sands sees loan progress derailed by injury
You have to feel for James Sands. He was making the most of his chance in Germany, becoming a real standout for St. Pauli. Then, in an instant, it was gone. An ankle injury, and a serious one.
Both St. Pauli and NYCFC confirmed the severity of the injury, one that will seemingly derail his initial six-month loan to the German side. The goal was for him to help St. Pauli stay in the league and then take it from there. Now, everything is uncertain.
St. Pauli, in some ways, was Sands' ticket to another USMNT chance. Could the U.S. deny a midfielder playing at a top level in the Bundesliga? The bet was that the answer was "no" but that didn't account for an injury this serious. Now, the progress Sands made has been halted. He's out indefinitely. Who knows what his timeline looks like now?
Will St. Pauli still be interested when his recovery is over? What does this mean for his World Cup hopes? It's unfortunate when you consider Sands had just started to take the Bundesliga by storm.
Getty Images SportEarly concerns for Folarin Balogun?
In need of help up top due to Folarin Balogun's injury, Monaco signed Mika Biereth in January. The striker arrived from Sturm Graz and has since run rampant in Ligue 1, scoring seven goals in his first five appearances.
Even before his injury, Balogun wasn't a guaranteed starter for Monaco. Now, with Biereth's emergence, where will the American find himself when he does return?
There are few weeks before that happens, as Balogun remains out for the foreseeable future. Prior to his injury, though, Balogun wasn't exactly lighting it up for Monaco. After scoring 21 goals while on loan with Reims in 2022-23, he scored just 10 in his first 37 Monaco appearances over the last two seasons.
The club now has multiple strikers competing to play so, when he does return, where will Balogun fit in all of that? It's worth keeping an eye on. Balogun should return with some time left in the season, and those games may be vital for him as he looks to show why he deserves his chance to reclaim a starting spot once fully healthy.
