TRANSFERS: USYNT Romain Gall Heads to Sweden and Nykopings

21 Year old USYNT, Romain Gall is off to Sweden.   Romain has joined the Swedish Allsvenskan (1st Division) side Nykoping. The news was broken by the team’s official website; "Romain Gall will be able to help our offensive dominance and is a very exciting player. He won the Golden Boot for the United States in the CONCACAF U20 which shows that there is potential in him" says coach John Wall. Gall who is a dual USA/France, who can...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday/Sunday - US Goalkeepers Pummeled - Its All About the Lower Leagues

With the international break little major action has been going on for the past few days (it will continue into the rest of the week as well) So I decided to combine Saturday & Sunday games into a single list. A few notables - Kristian Scott got to play a little with Nuneaton Town (debut) Shawn Parker played pretty much the 90 for Augsburg's junior squad, good to see him back from injury. Probably the biggest story (to me anyway) is the absolute...

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TRANSFERS: USYNT Forward Haji Wright Joins Schalke in Germany

Photo: soccerwire.com USYNT U18 forward Haji Wright, has reached his 18th birthday (today - 3-27). So his age restriction is lifted, and he will now be able to join FC Schalke 04 in Germany. Haji will start the next step in his career playing for FC Schalke 04 U19, in the Junioren Bundesliga West. (Which is the same junior league that Christian Pulisic started in for Dortmund) Haji, from Los Angeles, played for the New York Cosmos in 2015, and...

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TRANSFERS: Paul Torres Signs with IK Sirius in Sweden Superettan

Photo: Big Soccer    Paul Torres at Nykoping UMD alum, 24 year old Mid-fielder Paul Torres has signed for IK Sirius in Sweden's Superettan (2nd tier). This was a free transfer. Paul is no stranger to Scandinavia, having left Univ. of Maryland for Nykoping in Sweden. After 2 years he moved to Landskrona,  before trying his luck in Norway with Sandnes, before his contract expired in January this year. Paul, who is a dual US/Ven...

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TRANSFERS: Center Back Joseph Jackson signs for Drogheda United in League of Ireland

US Center Back Joseph Jackson has moved to the Republic of Ireland and signed with Droghega in the League of Ireland (2nd tier). Here is what Droghega United's web-site says about him; American defender Joe Jackson has signed for the club having featured for them in their pre-season programme. Jackson put pen to paper with the club having played domestic football in his native America prior to arriving in Ireland. The centre-back will add depth...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 3/20/2016 - Goals in Armenia, Lots of Young Players on Display

Sunday, Sunday, seems mostly the junior players making their mark today, pretty much all in Germany. I really enjoy tracking young players around the world who are trying to improve their value in the chosen profession. Many of the players I follow you probably don't know yet - but quite a number you will, in the future, so please don't dismiss them. GK Daniel Schmidt just missed out on a triple clean sheet in Japan, he is 2 Clean/2 goals in 4...

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TRANSFERS: Ryan Finley Joins Angelholms in Sweden

Ryan Finley at Notre Dame 24 year old, New Jersey native, Ryan Finley has joined Angelholms in Sweden's Superettan (2nd tier) The former Columbus, Chivas and Charlotte Independence forward joined the Swedish outfit on a free from Charlotte Independence (USL) where he spent the last year, following the demise of Chivas USA (MLS) Ryan spent his college years at Duke and the University of Notre Dame , Ryan finished second in the Herman Trophy voting...

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TRANSFERS: USYNT Zach Kobayashi Signs With Dinamo Zagreb

18 year old mid-fielder, Zach Kobayashi signed for Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb at the beginning of March. Zach has already played his first game with the U19's debuting for Dinamo Zagreb U19 Friday in their 2:0 win over Hrvatski Dragovoljac. Zach has played for FC Concordia Basel in Switzerland's 1 Liga (Group 2) where he appeared twice in 2015 Good Luck to Z...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 3/19/2016 - Features a Goal in Malta, Injuries and a GK Triple

Today's games, and there are many - are again a mixed bag. Gus Villalobos scored the only US Player goal, Goalie Brendan Moore makes it 3 clean sheets in a row. Bad news for USYNT as we lost 2 players for the season today - Carter Cameron-Vickers (Tottenham) and Lyndon Gooch (Sunderland & Doncaster) have both been announced as done for the season - with US Internationals coming down the pipe, this could not be worse news. Hope you get fit soon...

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DAILY WRAP: 3/18/2016 Features Bobby Wood Goal (video) and lots of German Action

A mixed day across the pond today. Bobby Wood continues to score (9 goals in 8 games) you can see the video below. On the other-side, Fabian Johnson didn't see out the 90 after a hot streak (Injury). Rubio Rubin was seen again on the bench at Utrecht and a new player discovery in Ireland...to the list Bobby Wood started went 90 minutes and Scored  (his 14th of the season to tie Conor Casey's American record in the top 2 German tiers) Bobby's...

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TRANSFERS: Villyan Bijev Returns Home - Joins Portland Timbers 2

Photo: BBC.    Back in the Day at Liverpool Considered by most to be a US Player, Villyan Bijev has represented both USYNT U20 and Bulgaria U21. Villyan had a chance of a lifetime ruined by paperwork right at the beginning of his career. Joining Liverpool U21, from the California Odyssey, his paperwork, which all thought would be a slam-dunk didn't work out that way, so it was the loan market, instead of cultivating his talent....

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TRANSFERS: USYNT U20 Kristian Scott moves to Nuneaton in England

U20 Kristian Scott has moved to Nuneaton in National League North (6th Tier). Kristian who was born in Bristol, UK, has represented the US at the U20 level, coming through several teams youth systems in England, Stoke U18, Swansea U21 and Leicester U21 Good Luck to Kris with his new team....

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DAILY WRAP: 3/15/2016 Features Brilliant Start for Brendan Moore, Goal in Europe Play for Kyle Scott

While everyone was watching Champions League matches, some of our US Players were battling for their clubs. Of note: Kyle Scott USYNT U19 - Scored for Chelsea in their EUFA Youth League Clash. Brendan Moore who joined Torquay just a little over a week ago, has now played twice and on both occasions kept a clean sheet as they fight for survival. Here is today's list.... U19 Kyle Scott, the other US Chelsea player, Scored Chelsea U19's only goal...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 3/13/2016 - Features Season Begins in Norway A Goal in Germany & A Trophy

Today saw the beginning of the Norwegian Tippeligaen (Top Tier) with a number of US Players taking part. We saw a goal from Alassane Kane - who we wrote about yesterday and GK Chris Konopka, was in the 18 today as Ross County picked up a Trophy in Scotland That and more follows;    While you were sleeping, GK, Daniel Schmidt started, went 90 in Yamaga's goalless draw at Shimizu, in Japan. This is Daniels 3rd game for Yamaga and his 2nd...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 3/12/2016 - Goals and Debut's Mark a Busy Day

Busy, Busy Day as we have 5 Goals and 3 Debuts, as Perry Kitchen, Brendan Moore and Russell Canouse all make appearances. GK Cody Cropper gets the call for MK Don's as their starter goes down injured. Bobby Wood continues to score and Roslindale, Massachusetts Charlie Rugg scores a brace in Germany's Regionalliga. Add to that a winning goal from Fabian Hurzeler and a late score by Marc Heider and the day for US Players look's pretty good....here's...

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LOANS: Brendan Moore Leaves Fleetwood for Torquay United

Photo:  Scott A. Miller Photography Keeper, Brendan Moore, who has been battling for playing time at Fleetwood, has moved on loan to Torquay United in the Vanarama National League. Brendan started his pro career with Portland's U23, before moving to Fleetwood in England's League One in February of 2015. He has had trouble getting playing time (Fleetwood had 4 GK's - including USA's Alek Gogic) The move that happened earlier today is through...

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DAILY WRAP: 3/11/2016 - Miazga Plays for Chelsea U21 gets Assist, Goals in Germany

Pretty busy start to the weekend this Friday. Matt Miazga finally makes an appearance, but in the U21, he went a full 90 minutes and is also credited with an assist on Chelsea's tying goal, Kyle Scot also got some time, so mark up a special moment (even if its U21) 2 US players on the field for Chelsea! Devante Parker scored for Mainz II and Fabrice-Jean Picault for St.Pauli. Danny Williams and Reading saw their FA Cup dreams disappear as they...

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TRANSFER: A Pair of Americans Are Now With DJK Bamberg in Germany

Photo: ifxsoccer.com        Brendan on trial for Weiden Brendan Ruiz Center Back from Cupertino, joined DJK Bamberg in Oberliga Bayern on February 1st. Brendan had been with SpVgg Weiden before the transfer. Brendan spent his early career in Brazil with Figuerense (at U20) before joining Sporting KC in MLS in 2013 (on a short contract). Photo: infranken.de            ...

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CONTRACTS: Hoffenheim U21, Russell Canouse, Moves Up to Senior Squad

Photo: Hoffenheim Web Site 20 year old, Lancaster Pennsylvania Mid-Fielder Russell Canouse has been offered a special opportunity, as he continues his  climb through the ranks at Hoffenheim. According to Kicker.de the German Magazine & on-line tracker of everything German football, Russell will get the opportunity to appear with the senior squad, as injuries pile up. (Could be as early as this weekend as Wolfsburg visit the Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena.) Russell...

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DAILY WRAP: 3/8/2016 - On The Bench Edition

Seems like the majority of US Players found themselves on the bench today,  still we push on regardless. Games in England and a UCL match involving Kenny Saief and Belgium's Gent. Here is today's list; Adam Henley was not in 18 for Blackburn as they hosted Birmingham and Jonathan Spector (in 18 DNP) and won 2 - 0 in England's Championship Danny Barbir finally got off the bench today, in the 89th minute, as West Bromwich U21 beat Wolves...

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TRANSFER: Chris Konopka leaves Toronto for Ross County in Scotland

Photo: sbisoccer.com               Chris had a Save of The Week on SBI v LA Galaxy New Jersey born Chris Konopka, has left  Toronto FC and joined Ross County in Scotland's Premier League. Chris was drafted in 2007 by the (then) Kansas City Wizards, spent time at Philadelphia and Toronto, where he played 21 times last season with 4 shutouts, over the past few years, Chris...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Sunday 3/6/2016 - Features a Goal in Luxembourg and Some Costly Losses

Much quieter day today, that feature possibly costly loses by Hertha and Nantes. But young US players make their teams, a goal in Luxembourg and a clean sheet in Japan. Lets go to the news; In Japan, GK Daniel Schmidt started his 2nd game for Yamaga in J2 League, Daniel kept a clean sheet as his new team won 0 - 2 over Yokohama FC Fabrice-Jean Picault, started for St Pauli, in Germany's 2Liga, played the first half before being subbed, as St...

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WEEKEND WRAP: Saturday 3/5/2016 - Goals by Wood (2) Schonfeld, Soto, Fabian Johnson Continues Form

Busy busy day, pretty much everything is here...a few folks I left out (mostly not in 18) goals from our guys include a brace from Bobby Wood (Video below) Aaron Schonfeld makes it 3 goals in 4 games in Israel, and ex Chivas USA - Josue Soto nets one for Jaro in Finland. Of course Fabian Johnson was on fire again with an assist in M'Gladbach's losing effort.  Here is the complete list; Mid-fielder Josue Soto started and Scored for FF Jaro...

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DAILY WRAP: 3/4/2016 - Goal from Shawn Parker, Debut for Hunter Gorskie

Interesting day, Hunter Gorskie debut's in Poland, Shawn Parker (brother of Devante) on his 2nd appearance (first start) since recovering from an injury scores for a pitiful Augsburg II, and conspicuous by there absence, the Irish Premier League began today, and our American players didn't make the cut! Here is the news today Photo: NY Cosmos 24 year old Defender Hunter Gorskie, who left NY Cosmos for Poland, debuted and started for Legnica...

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RUMORS: Bedoya to Premier League This Summer?

English rag, The Daily Mail, is  reporting that several EPL clubs are interested in signing Alejandro Bedoya. Here is the report  Alejandro has had a pretty good year so far at Nantes He has scored four goals this campaign, including two in the Cup, and was unfortunate to have one ruled out for offside against Monaco "Bedoya is under contract until 2019 at the eight-placed French club and is valued at around £3million. However,...

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DAILY WRAP: 3/2/2016 - Goals by Rodriguez, Villalobos Assist by Johnson

Another busy mid-week schedule, although from a US player perspective, quite a few MIA's (for various reasons) still enough going on to keep interest high. Mario Rodriguez scored, the winner, for M'Gladbach II. Gus Villalobos scored tying the game for Pembroke in Malta, and Fabian Johnson continued his hot streak with an excellent assist on the opening goal for M'Gladbach's senior squad. Elsewhere Alejandro Bedoya could not find the magic to help...

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