WASHINGTON • For some 25 years, American players have been carving out a modest presence overseas.
Many have been goalkeepers and defensive types. Some have arrived with scoring portfolios forged in Major League Soccer. Several were dual nationals, born and trained abroad.
Intra-European transfers involving king's ransoms and glamorous suitors were reserved for the likes of David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar; for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona; for Brazilians, Argentinians and Spaniards.
Certainly not for Americans.
Christian Pulisic, 20, busted that mould on Wednesday when English Premier League titans Chelsea signed him from Borussia Dortmund for £58 million (S$99.7 million).
The fee was more than three times the previous record for a US player - in May 2017, defender John Brooks left German club Hertha Berlin to sign for Wolfsburg for €20 million (S$31 million) - and around the 25th largest in the sport's history.
Pulisic will remain with Dortmund this season, then in August become the first high-profile American, not including goalkeepers, to suit up for an English heavyweight.
Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey did score goals for Fulham, but the Cottagers operate in the shadows of London brethren. Claudio Reyna and DaMarcus Beasley liked the ball at their feet. John Harkes played for trophies at Wembley. Tim Howard, Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel were world-class goalkeepers.
Pulisic has always been different. His electric skill set - initiated in Hershey, Pennsylvania, by parents who played at George Mason University and took him abroad in early 2015 - belies the reputation of Americans being hard workers, supporting actors and little else.
Amid gains in the sport since the late 1980s, the US has developed few creative male prospects suited for the world's brightest stages.
Where has Freddy Adu gone?
In terms of dynamic attackers, the closest comparison to Pulisic was Landon Donovan. Their acceleration and confidence with the ball are eerily similar.
Donovan, however, spent the bulk of his decorated career in San Jose and Los Angeles before retiring last year, never making a European breakthrough despite opportunities in Germany and England.
As a teenager, Pulisic was starting regularly in the Bundesliga, which sits in the top tier of European circuits with the Premier League, Spain's LaLiga, Italy's Serie A and France's Ligue 1. Dortmund also typically qualify for the Champions League, the continent's elite club competition.
Given his high-level experience at such a young age, he was one of the top five transfer targets this winter despite his lessening role at Dortmund. Bumped from the line-up by English teenager Jadon Sancho, he has appeared in 11 of 17 league matches, starting five and scoring once. He has continued to start in the Champions League.
Given his profile and cost, the Blues, whose last of six English titles came in 2017, are almost sure of thrusting him into the line-up next summer. Beyond his contributions on the field, Chelsea are, no doubt, counting on a marketing bump. Through pre-season tours and TV exposure, European clubs have made great strides in recent years appealing to US audiences.
Given the historical England-US ties, and that NBC Sports' presentation of the EPL is akin to the National Football League which is still the most-watched sport, Chelsea are eyeing an uptick in exposure and jersey sales.
NBC is certainly thrilled about building coverage around an exciting US player. Two defenders and a defensive midfielder comprise the current US contingent in the EPL.
Pulisic's move is also seen as a victory for US men's football which, in the wake of the World Cup qualifying fiasco, has fallen off the radar and begun major renovations.
Before his transfer, Pulisic was already the centrepiece of the programme. Wearing Chelsea colours and competing in the sport's most popular league, he will soon inherit a role no American has ever taken.
WASHINGTON POST
Football: Brazil soccer star Neymar accused of committing
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-brazil-soccer-star-neymar-accused-of-committing-rape-in-paris-police-report/
06/03/2019 Comments Off on Football: Brazil soccer star Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris - police report SAO PAULO (REUTERS) - A woman has accused Brazil soccer star Neymar of raping her in Paris, according to a Sao Paulo police report seen by Reuters.
Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris, player responds
Investigators searching for a lost plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala said on Wednesday an underwater search would begin after they found two seat cushions on the French
Football: Plane cushions found in search for missing soccer
Latest Football Gist Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa shines Chelsea were indebted to Kepa for a series of superb saves that preserved their lead after the
Jorginho fires Chelsea as recalled Kepa shines - Afriupdate
Chelsea beat Slavia Prague to reach Europa League semi-finals
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight. msn back to msn home sport. powered by Microsoft News. web search. Skip to Navigation; Football Motor Sport Golf
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight - Football
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has announced he's set to donate all of the proceeds from his upcoming testimonial to Manchester's homeless population. At the age of 32, Kompany is on the
Very good Kompany: City's captain marvel - dailymail.co.uk
Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Belgium - GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus - March 24, 2019 Belgium's Eden Hazard in action with Cyprus' Kostakis Artymatas and Georgios Efrem
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
'Serene' Quagliarella becomes Italy's oldest scorer at 36 PARMA • Fabio Quagliarella attributed his new-found inner peace, following years of being harassed by a stalker, to his stunning form for club and country after the 36-year-old became the oldest player to score for Italy on Tuesday.
Quagliarella becomes oldest Italy scorer - Daily Nation
Fabio Quagliarella became the oldest ever player to score for Italy as the 36-year-old converted two penalties in a crushing 6-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win by the Azzurri over Liechtenstein on
Quagliarella becomes oldest Italy scorer in 6-0 Liechtenstein
Chinese football aims to be top in Asia the Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Tuesday (June 4) that China will stage the 2023 Asian Cup, a possible dry-run for hosting a World Cup
BlackRock aims to be a top asset manager in China, Fink says
Tampines Rovers need a win over the seemingly unstoppable Albirex Niigata FC (S) to prevent them from pulling further away as both sides face off at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday. The Singapore Premier League (SPL) defending champions are running away with the title and it is down to the Stags to end that impressive unbeaten streak.
Home looking to end poor run, Latest Singapore Football News
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 31, 2018, with the headline 'Spurs paid the price for complacency: Pochettino'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Spurs paid the price for complacency: Pochettino
Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been fined £8,000 by the Football Association for kicking a bottle which hit a Brighton fan during last week's Premier League match between the sides.
Arsenal boss Emery fined £8,000 for kicking water bottle
Neymar 'cried for two days' after new foot injury | Philstar.com
Dec 30, 2018 · Man City bounces back but Guardiola says it must beat Liverpool to keep EPL title race alive Updated 2347 GMT (0747 HKT) December 30, 2018 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger.
We Must Beat Liverpool - Guardiola - mysportdab.com
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch soccer am live stream
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch live soccer stream android
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch live soccer game today
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch soccer games live stream free
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming pakistan
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch coppa america live streaming video
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer live streaming kenya
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch champions league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming match
free watch soccer live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch premier league live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch premier league games live stream
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch champions league final live streaming
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch live streaming soccer world cup
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
free watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch soccer aid live stream
#seriea #footballmeme #londoncity #serieatim #soccer #cristianoronaldo #league2 #livestreaming #tokyo #hotcoffee #footballdubai #portsmouthfc #coyg #satira #frasirap #chocolatecoffee #adidasslipon #lovefootball #risate #liverpool #beatifulgame #copaamerica #JUVENTUS #rockstar #Sunday #firmino #paulmcartney #afcnews #ronaldo #Barca #valcea #nutmeg #knuckleball #coffeebreak #romania #manchesterunited #elcasico #freekick #24x7 #arsenalnews #villarealcf #frasitrap #arsenalfantv #4Series #cappucino #champion #premierleague #comico #vandijk #commento
0 Comments