Despite the departure of Christian Pulisic, the upcoming Premier League season will be a fantastic watch for USMNT fans. Leeds’s relegation, unfortunately, saw three Americans lose their Premier League status, but Weston McKennie was on loan at the club anyway. A Premier League return for Leeds’ Brenden Aaronson might’ve been on the cards, but the midfielder has already joined Union Berlin in Germany.
With all that said, what USMNT or, instead, USMNT-eligible players will be playing Premier League football this upcoming season?
First, let’s look at what Americans are already registered to Premier League teams and are expected to remain with their respective clubs.
Antonee Robinson (Fulham) – Nicknamed Jedi, Robinson is keeping Fulhamerica strong in London. Robinson was born and raised in England but is able to play for the USMNT through his father, who grew up in the state of New York. The tricky fullback has 33 senior caps to his name and has won two CONCACAF Nations League titles. Robinson has been a regular since his arrival in 2020, eventually helping the club gain promotion back to the Premier League in 2021. There’s no reason to believe Robinson will NOT play for Fulham next season, making him a lock in this category.
Tim Ream (Fulham) – Joining Robinson at Fulham is the club’s captain, Tim Ream. Unlike Robinson, Ream was born and grew up in the US. Hailing from Missouri, Ream made his professional debut in the MLS after being drafted out of the NCAA. After just a couple of MLS seasons, Ream moved to England, where he linked up with Bolton. The Wanderers were still in the Premier League at the time, but the club, unfortunately, saw relegation in Ream’s first season. After impressing at Bolton, Ream made a switch to Fulham in 2015, where he, of course, still plays. This will be the veteran USMNT defender’s fourth Premier League season with Fulham.
Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) – Richards dealt with injury in his first season in England. Arriving from Bayern Munich, in the summer of 2022, he will be looking to be a bigger factor this season. His leg injury prevented him from playing at the World Cup in Qatar with the USMNT. Even once he had returned to fitness, Richards regularly rode the bench for Crystal Palace in the latter stages of last season. Palace’s centre-back partnership of Guehi and Andersen will make it difficult for Richards to become a regular starter. He can play on either side as a fullback, but it is not a preferred position. Richards is from Alabama and came through the FC Dallas academy until signing for Bayern.
Matt Turner (Arsenal) – The USMNT’s number one will be the backup at Arsenal again this upcoming season. Aaron Ramsdale is the out-and-out starter for the Gunners, but Turner will be looking to get some Champions League and domestic cup action. A New Jersey native, Turner was signed out of camp by the New England Revolution of MLS and was the league’s goalkeeper of the year in 2021. He also has a Gold Cup and two Nations League trophies to his name with the USMNT.
Next is the USMNT-eligible players who very well could stay, but it isn’t a guarantee.
Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea) – This was a tough one because the departure of Edouard Mendy means Slonina could back up Kepa. Slonina broke records in the MLS before his arrival at Chelsea. He was the Chicago Fire’s youngest-ever signing and the youngest-ever debut keeper in MLS history. He spent the beginning of 2023 playing for Chelsea’s U21 side, and there’s a solid chance he gets reps there again. Slonina was eligible for Poland, and he was called into camp in 2022, but he ultimately declined and is committed to the USMNT. It is too earlier to know what happens with Slonina at Chelsea. A loan to somewhere like the Ekstraklasa means sense, but we will have to wait and see.
Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest) – Horvath spent last season on loan at Luton Town, who have now been promoted to the Premier League. It’s already been reported Luton will not pursue a permanent deal for last season’s starting keeper. That leaves Horvath in the position of potentially backing up Dean Henderson, who looks set to join Forest permanently. His competition will be 35-year-old Wayne Hennessy, but he will have a legitimate shot at remaining on the team. Horvath is from Colorado but has been in Europe for some time, joining Norwegian side Molde in 2013. Horvath was a part of the USMNT’s Qatar World Cup squad and has eight USMNT caps to date.
Here are the Americans who have an outside chance of staying, but the odds are against them.
Folarin Balogun (Arsenal) – Just because they probably won’t be around doesn’t mean they aren’t Premier League level. Folarin Balogun could absolutely play a part for a Premier League side. It just won’t be with Arsenal. With both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in the striker position, Balogun will need to find playing time elsewhere. As The Top Flight has reported, Inter is a legitimate option for Folarin, and a deal is being explored. Balogun’s connection to the United States ends at his birthplace. He was raised in England to Nigerian parents and only just recently committed to The Yanks. Balogun scored 21 goals this past season at Ligue 1 side Reims, on loan from Arsenal. Perhaps a Premier League side may explore a deal should Inter not advance negotiations, but it is not probable.
Auston Trusty (Arsenal) – Trusty is probably the most slam-dunk guess on what American will not stay with their Premier League club. A native of Pennsylvania, Trusty has had MLS spells at Philidelphia Union and Colorado Rapids before his move to Arsenal in 2022. He joined Birmingham City on loan last summer and played a staggering 48 matches as a centre-back for the Blues. It is undecided where Trusty may head next, but it is not very realistic to think he will have a place with the Gunners.
Alex Mighten (Nottingham Forest) – Born in the US, Mighten grew up in Nottingham. A product of the Forest youth system, Mighten was a regularly used forward for the club in the Championship between 2020 and 2022. After promotion, he saw himself phased out of the squad and loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday before being recalled this past January. He made his Premier League debut against Newcastle on August 8th, 2022. Mighten has yet to play for the USMNT at any level, while he has youth caps for England.
Zack Steffen (Manchester City) – Once a regular call-up for the USMNT, Steffen will be looking to be just that again. Steffen spent last season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough and is unlikely to upset Stefan Ortega as number two behind Ederson. There’s zero reason for Steffen to stay as the third-stringer for City, and even then, the club has Scott Carson on the books too. It’s hard to gauge where Steffen could end up, whether on loan or with a permanent transfer. Could a Premier League transfer be on the books? It’s unknown whether or not he could be a starter in the league, but perhaps being a backup again is plausible. Steffen moved to City in 2019 from MLS side Columbus Crew.
Alex Borto (Fulham) – Born and raised in New Jersey, Borto has an outside shot of earning some bench appearances for Fulham next season. A loan to a lower-level EFL side shouldn’t be out of the question, but Borto is likely to be the starter for Fulham’s U21s. Borto has a cap for the USMNT at the U20 level and was a part of the squad for the 2023 U20 World Cup.
West McKennie (Juventus) – The USMNT midfielder would see a second stint in the Premier League should he return. McKennie spent last season on loan at Leeds United, who suffered relegation from the Premier League. He’s been left out of Juventus’ pre-season tour squad, and the club is expected to listen to offers on the player. McKennie has been linked to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, but that’s as far as things have gone so far. With Premier League experience on his resume, fellow league sides may take a look at McKennie, even if just on loan again.
Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma) – Reynolds spent last season at Westerlo in Belgium, on loan from Roma. Plying his trade as a fullback, Reynolds is now subject to Premier League interest. The links aren’t strong, but Fulham and West Ham are reportedly keeping tabs on the American. Tom Boegert reported back in May that Westerlo wants Reynolds back and has bid for him.
Malik Tillman (Bayern Munich) – Tillman likely won’t be sticking around with Bayern. After a respectable loan spell at Rangers, Tillman is now subject to Premier League interest. Daily Mail reports that both Brighton and Brentford are eyeing a move for the midfielder. This one feels like it could absolutely happen. There’s a lot of scouting that takes place from Premier League clubs in Scotland, so there’s tons of analysis on Tillman.
Taylor Booth (FC Utrecht) – Much like Tillman, Booth is no stranger to Bayern Munich. He only moved permanently away from the club to Utrecht on a free transfer in June 2022. Booth recorded 6 goal contributions from the midfield in the Eredivisie last season. Prior to their signing of Mason Mount, ESPN was reporting Booth as a shock transfer target for Manchester United. It’s very likely things will happen now, but Premier League clubs are clearly watching the player.
Tyler Adams (Leeds United) – One of the most important players for the USMNT is defensive mid Tyler Adams. After progressing through the Red Bull system, in New York and Leipzig, Adams found his way over to England. Now on a relegated Leeds side, Adams will be looking for a move back to a top 5 league. The Athletic reported back in June that Aston Villa are admirers of the American. 90min reported in May that Newcastle and Tottenham are tracking Adams. The former feels unlikely, especially after the signing of Sandro Tonali.