Summer Transfer Round-Up: Which USMNT Players Were on the Move
See where Tim Weah, Matt Turner, Malik Tillman and others will be playing their club soccer this fall
The summer transfer window is one of the busiest times of the year in the soccer world as European teams improve their rosters before the new season kicks off and MLS clubs look to revamp their squads for the second half of league play.
Several players in the United States Men’s National Team pool were on the move this summer. Here’s a recap of some of the players who will suit up in new colors for new clubs this fall:
Colorado Rapids --> Toronto FC
Toronto FC is in the midst of an overhaul. The MLS Eastern Conference club recently parted ways with their dynamic duo of Italians, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi. With Designated Player spots open and a need to add dynamism to the attack, the Reds acquired midfielder Djordje Mihailovic in a smashing trade with Colorado Rapids, another MLS club.
Mihailovic joins Toronto FC as a DP and will serve as a focal point in a new-look Reds attack. Toronto FC is the fourth MLS club that Mihailovic has played for after previous stints with Chicago Fire and CF Montréal. He’s recorded 11 caps for the USMNT, seeing playing time in two Gold Cups and at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Tim Weah
After two years at Juventus in Italy’s Serie A, forward Tim Weah is heading back to France. The 25-year-old transferred to Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1, finishing his career at Juventus with seven goals in 78 appearances.
Palermo FC --> FC Köln
Kristoffer Lund will get a chance to play in Bundesliga for the first time in his career. The 23-year-old defender joins the German side on loan from Palermo, a club based in Sicily that currently plays in Serie B.
Lund has spent all of his professional career abroad in Europe. Born in Denmark, Lund was part of Denmark’s youth system before earning his first call-up for the U.S. Men’s National Team and making his debut. He’s now earned seven caps for the USMNT, the most recent in a friendly against Uzbekistan in 2023.
Matt Turner
Lyon --> New England Revolution
Matt Turner is back in Major League Soccer. After several stints in Europe, the 30-year-old goalkeeper returned to his former club, New England Revolution, in a transfer worth $6 million.
Turner rejoins MLS where he played previously from 2018-2022. His time in Europe was defined by short stints at various clubs including Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, where he made 17 appearances.
Turner returns to a league where he’s been very successful. In 2021, Turner was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and an MLS All-Star. He will look to have a fresh (re)start in Foxborough and push the Revs back into playoff contention during the back half of the season.
Chelsea --> Watford
Wiley also spent the year prior on loan. He made three appearances for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him. He then spent the second-half of the season on loan to Watford where he’ll be again this fall. The move could signal competitive minutes for the talented left fullback as he looks to prove himself worthy of more call-ups with the senior team.
Johnny Cardoso
Real Betis --> Atlético Madrid
Johnny Cardoso is not changing leagues, but he is making a big leap. On July 26, the dual national of the United States and Brazil signed with one of the premiere clubs in La Liga, Atlético Madrid.
Cardoso was among several key signings for Atlético Madrid this summer, and the club was exceptionally busy as they look to improve from their third-place finish last season and compete for the La Liga title. Media have hyped this move for Cardoso, calling it “career-changing” as he will play a role in strengthening the spine of the team along with fellow midfield additions Thiago Almada, Álex Baena and Matteo Ruggeri.
Patrick Agyemang
Charlotte FC --> Derby County
Leading the U.S. Men’s National Team in scoring in 2025 garnered the attention of Europe, and striker Patrick Agyemang transferred from Charlotte FC in MLS to Derby County in the Championship for an undisclosed fee.
Agyemang is a goal-scoring machine, finishing his career in Charlotte with 22 goals in 72 matches. The 24-year-old was also named an MLS All-Star, one of two selections by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, for the first time in his career. Most recently, he played a significant role in helping the United States reach the final of the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, scoring two goals across six appearances.
Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman, one of the standouts for the U.S. Men’s National Team during their Gold Cup run, was born in Germany. He returns to his birth country to play club soccer, signing with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga on a five-year contract. Having won the league in 2023-24 and finishing in second place behind Bayern Munich last season, Leverkusen will once again play Champions League football.
He joins Leverkusen following an excellent run of form that has elevated Tillman to prominent status in the USMNT player pool. He helped his previous club PSV Eindhoven win the Dutch Eredivisie title twice. He also proved why he was a name to watch on the pitch in the U.S. this summer, contributing three goals and three assists for the United States in the Gold Cup, trailing Diego Luna only by one for most contributions on the team.
FC Cologne --> Southampton
Southampton will look to make a quick return to the English Premier League after being relegated at the end of last season. For now, they will compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football.
The club has called on reinforcements this offseason and the latest signing at striker knows how to lift a club toward promotion. Damion Downs did just that at FC Cologne, contributing 15 goals + assists to lead the second-tier German side to a division title and promotion to the Bundesliga, the top league in Germany. Downs was part of the Gold Cup roster for the United States and delivered the game-sealing penalty kick against Costa Rica in Minneapolis that sent the U.S. through to the semifinals.
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