Americans in Premier League: USMNT players at EPL clubs for 2023/24 season

Kyle Bonn

Americans in Premier League: USMNT players at EPL clubs for 2023/24 season image

The "golden generation" of young American talent is starting to reach its peak years, and with that comes moves to bigger clubs.

With the wealth of the Premier League snatching up talent from across the globe, USMNT players are beginning to raise their profiles by joining top-flight English clubs.

There has been a lot of change for American players over the course of the past year, with some moving between English sides and others switching leagues altogether.

The Sporting News details the American internationals who are currently at Premier League clubs hoping to earn minutes in the coming season on the world's most visible domestic club stage.

Americans at Premier League clubs in 2023/24

Antonee Robinson (LB, Fulham)

Full-back Antonee Robinson has quietly developed into one of the most important and consistent players for both his club Fulham and his country. Whenever Robinson is off the pitch, his absence is heavily felt.

Born in the UK, Robinson committed to the United States back in 2018 and has become a steady presence, calm on the ball under pressure and able to perform high-level defensive responsibilities. Often left on an island defensively, 26-year-old Robinson can handle the pressures of facing some of the best wingers in the world.

That Fulham have managed to keep him this long is a wonderful bit of business by the Premier League club, just signing a new contract this past summer which runs through June of 2028.

Tim Ream (CB, Fulham)

Joining Fulham in the summer of 2015 from fellow English club Bolton Wanderers, American defender Tim Ream has blossomed into a club legend in London. A key part of multiple promotion pushes with the Whites, it seemed his chances of becoming a consistent Premier League player were dwindling after two failed stints in the English top flight.

Yet his 2022/23 season was a revelation, helping to earn Ream a late call-up to the USMNT World Cup squad that winter in Qatar. Nearing 300 appearances for Fulham, the 35-year-old is a gritty veteran who has managed to prolong his career much further than many would have imagined. 

Matt Turner (GK, Nottingham Forest)

A move to Arsenal from the New England Revolution put starting USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner on the international map. While he didn't play much for the Gunners in the league, he did see time in cup action, and that has earned him a switch to fellow English club Nottingham Forest, where Turner is now the perceived starter.

Competing for time with fellow American Ethan Horvath (for now), Turner gets a true chance to secure starting Premier League minutes after being stuck behind Aaron Ramsdale for his first season in England.

Tyler Adams (CM, Bournemouth)

After starring in his first season at Leeds United before a hamstring injury ruined the back half of the year, Tyler Adams caught the eye of top Premier League clubs. With Leeds suffering relegation, Adams was a leading candidate to depart, and despite his injury lingering through the summer, he managed to secure a return to the top flight with Bournemouth.

The former NY Red Bulls midfielder is a defensive wizard and can provide value both on and off the ball as a true No.6, so the Cherries might just have got themselves a steal.

Chris Richards (CB, Crystal Palace)

Still just 23 years old, Chris Richards has shown promise as a consistent starter at the international level for the United States. If he can shake off injury troubles, Richards should develop into a top player for Crystal Palace as well. After earning a Premier League transfer in the summer of 2022 from Bayern Munich, Richards' first season in England was ruined by injuries.

Yet there's significant promise heading into this coming campaign, especially after performing extremely well for the national team over the summer. The Crystal Palace squad is loaded with quality defenders, but Richards remains a key figure for both club and country both now and in the future.

Zack Steffen (GK, Manchester City)

Another USMNT goalkeeper potentially on the move is Zack Steffen. The 28-year-old was at Championship side Middlesbrough on loan last year, but an injury ended his season early and ruined his chance of making a U.S. roster this summer.

Now looking for a new club ahead of the upcoming season, it would seem counter-intuitive for Steffen to remain at Manchester City, where he has no hope of playing behind Ederson or Stefan Ortega. His knee injury complicates the search for a new home. 

Zack Steffen of the USA vs Costa Rica
Getty Images

Ethan Horvath (GK, Nottingham Forest)

While 28-year-old Ethan Horvath is with Nottingham Forest for now, his club future is up in the air. Horvath spent last season on loan at Luton Town, where he played a huge role for the club in securing a Premier League place via the Championship playoff. Yet the club surprisingly declined to activate his buy clause, seeing him return to Forest this summer.

With Forest spending good money on Horvath's international teammate Matt Turner, and also potentially moving to keep Dean Henderson around on a permanent basis, it feels unlikely that Horvath will remain at the club.

Auston Trusty (CB/LB, Sheffield United)

Contracted to Arsenal last season but on loan at Birmingham City, Auston Trusty has now earned his shot to start for a Premier League club after completing a permanent move to newly-promoted side Sheffield United.

A defender who can play both in the middle and on the flank, the 24-year-old is a savvy pickup for the Blades and he has a good chance to earn starting minutes. If he can prove valuable at the club level, it's possible that Trusty moves his way up the USMNT depth chart, where he's currently not considered a first-team option.

Americans who departed Premier League clubs

Folarin Balogun (ST, AS Monaco)

Balogun enjoyed a standout season with Reims in 2022/23 and it always looked likely he would leave Arsenal after becoming disenchanted with a lack of first-team opportunities. It took until the final 48 hours of the transfer window for him to get his move as he completed a transfer back to Ligue 1 with AS Monaco. Given he scored 21 times in the French league last season, it's likely this could prove a shrewd move for the youngster.

Christian Pulisic (RW/ACM, AC Milan)

A notable absentee from this list is former Chelsea forward Christian Pulisic, one of the most visible American players in the game. Pulisic saw his minutes slowly deteriorate at Stamford Bridge, and this summer decided to secure a move to Italian side AC Milan with the hopes of reinvigorating his club career. Alongside fellow U.S. international Yunus Musah, Pulisic looks to be a key figure for Milan this coming season.

Brenden Aaronson (RW, Union Berlin)

With Leeds United relegated, like Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson also departed the club in search of top-flight action. While Adams stayed in England, Aaronson moved abroad, joining darlings of last season's Bundesliga Union Berlin.

The German club shockingly challenged for the title across much of the previous campaign, fading late but still earning a Champions League place amidst final-day drama. Union Berlin's calling card last season was a stifling defense, and so Aaronson's pressing genius is a great fit at a club that needs attacking talent but also values defensive work rate.

Brenden Aaronson of the United States national team
Getty Images

Weston McKennie (CM, Juventus)

On loan at Leeds United for the second half of last season, Weston McKennie returned to his parent club Juventus with the Italian club in turmoil. While it appeared for a while that McKennie would be on is way out, his preseason performances seem to have changed the tide, and he could stay at the Serie A giants, who are banned from Europe this season. He never had a chance to stay at Leeds after struggling with injuries and poor form, with the club reportedly turning down his expensive buy option.

Gaga Slonina (GK, KAS Eupen)

Still contracted to his parent club Chelsea, the 19-year-old goalkeeper joined Belgian club KAS Eupen on loan for the 2023/24 season. Slonina signed for Chelsea last summer from Chicago Fire, and after completing the MLS season on loan, he moved to the London club and trained there for six months.

But game time is ultimately the most important thing for a young, developing player, and amidst hopes he will be the USMNT starting goalkeeper in the future, Slonina now gets to truly begin his European club career.

Americans linked with transfer to Premier League clubs

Malik Tillman (MF/RW, Bayern Munich)

Contracted to German club Bayern Munich, 21-year-old Malik Tillman spent last season on loan at Scottish club Rangers and excelled, and while he could have stayed long-term by triggering a miniscule £5 million buy option, Bayern reportedly exercised a buy-back in his contract, which nullified the buy option but gives Rangers a cut of any potential transfer.

The German club is hoping to transfer him to a Premier League team, according to Kicker, and The Daily Mail has indicated that Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford are the two teams most interested. He could also return to Rangers should the two parties work out a permanent deal.

In early August, after his transfer rumors had cooled a bit, Florian Plettenberg of Goal.com reported that Tillman is being loaned out to either Dutch side PSV Eindhoven or newly-promoted Premier League club Sheffield United. The deal will include some form of option to buy, to be determined. Kerry Hau of Sport1 reported that PSV has the edge, but nothing has come of that since.

Taylor Booth (MF, FC Utrecht)

According to a report by Rob Dawson of ESPN earlier this summer, Manchester United are considering a deal for 24-year-old Taylor Booth, with talks stalling on a Mason Mount transfer. Yet eventually the Mount deal was completed, which makes this move unlikely. But Spain's Celta Vigo are also reportedly interested.

Booth is a former Bayern Munich youth product who moved to Dutch side FC Utrecht last summer on a free transfer and impressed, scoring two goals and assisting four others through 24 Eredivisie appearances.

Premier League 2023/24 TV channels, live streams

Region TV Streaming
Australia Optus Sport
Canada

Fubo Canada

Hong Kong Now TV
India Star Sports Disney+, Hotstar,
JioTV
Malaysia Astro SuperSport Astro Go
New Zealand Sky Sport Sky Sport Now,
Sky Go
Singapore StarHub StarHub TV+
UK Sky Sports, TNT Sports NOW TV, Sky Go,
Amazon Prime
USA USA Network,
Telemundo, Universo
Fubo, Peacock

UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and TNT Sports streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.

USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on Fubo. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streamed exclusively via Fubo in Canada.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

India: Star Sports network has the rights to show Premier League matches in India. As well as an English broadcast on Star Sports Select, select matches will be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla) and Star Sports 1 (Tamil).

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.