As the number of American talents emigrating to Europe rapidly increases, the number of players in key roles for Champions League clubs continues to rise.
In the 2022/23 Champions League group stage, there are 10 Americans who are set to play big roles for their club over the six games, looking to earn places in the knockout round.
From major European leagues in England, Germany, and Spain to clubs from Israel and Belgium, Americans are looking to earn minutes in Europe's top club competition.
USMNT starters Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are the most high-profile names who are making their return to the Champions League. Pulisic will be going head-to-head against fellow USMNTer Sergino Dest, who moved to AC Milan.
Here are all the USMNT players involved in Europe's top club competition this year, plus a few others with American eligibility who have yet to appear for the national team.
MORE: Transfer news for USMNT players in summer 2022 window
USMNT players in Champions League 2022/23
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
There were plenty of rumors regarding Pulisic's potential departure from the London club as he seeks more guaranteed minutes ahead of the 2022 World Cup. But Pulisic is staying put for now.
Pulisic has been an important part of Chelsea's recent Champions League success in recent seasons. The American has made 21 appearances in UEFA's top competition for Chelsea, scoring five goals and assisting five others.
The American scored a critical goal against Real Madrid in the first leg of their semifinal matchup in 2021, en route to Chelsea hoisting the title. Pulisic also scored in both legs of their Round of 16 matchup against LOSC Lille last campaign, helping Chelsea to a 4-1 aggregate victory.
However, currently, Pulisic has been an afterthought at Chelsea. After the loss to Dinamo Zagreb to open Champions League play, manager Thomas Tuchel was fired, and it remains to be seen how Pulisic will fare under new manager Graham Potter.
MORE: Why staying at Chelsea presents Pulisic with a huge challenge
Chelsea Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Pulisic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Chelsea | Did not start, played 15 mins as sub |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | vs. RB Salzburg | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | vs. AC Milan | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | at AC Milan | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | at RB Salzburg | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | vs. Dinamo Zagreb |
Weston McKennie (Juventus)
McKennie has grown into an everyday starter for the U.S. national team. The 23-year-old is also a key figure in the Juventus midfield, especially with new arrival Paul Pogba sidelined for significant time due to a knee injury.
Since joining the Italian club in the summer of 2020, he's made 13 Champions League appearances, bagging a goal in their 3-0 win over Barcelona to conclude 2020/21 group stage play.
Last season, McKennie helped Juventus get out of the group and reach the knockout round, until suffering a broken foot in the Round of 16 first leg against Villarreal that kept him out of action for significant time. Without McKennie, Juventus crashed out of the Champions League in the second leg after an embarrassing 3-0 home loss.
This year, McKennie's Juve started off with a loss at PSG, but McKennie's introduction at halftime changed the game in the Italian side's favor, helping their push for a late comeback, which fell just short.
Juventus Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | McKennie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | PSG 2-1 Juventus | Did not start, played 45 mins as sub |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | vs. Benfica | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | vs. Maccabi Haifa | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | at Maccabi Haifa | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | at Benfica | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | vs. PSG |
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund)
Still just 19 years old, Reyna has proven an electric winger — when healthy. Injuries have stunted the young star's growth of late, especially last season when he failed to shake a hamstring problem.
Reyna is finally back from injury, working his way onto the field slowly to ensure there are no further complications. He missed Dortmund's first two league matches of the year, but returned for their third Bundesliga game, logging 28 minutes off the bench. He sat out the following match, and then got seven minutes in the following match.
Dortmund — and USMNT fans — will hope that Reyna is back to full match fitness for the start of Champions League group stage fixtures so he can be involved heavily in their push for a spot in the knockout rounds. It should make for the ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup.
Reyna has to this point been unable to claim a starting role at Dortmund, but came on against FC Copenhagen in the opener for an injured Thorgan Hazard and provided two assists in a 3-0 win.
Borussia Dortmund Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Reyna |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | BvB 3-0 FC Copenhagen | Did not start, played 67 mins: 2 assists |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | at Manchester City | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | at Sevilla | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | vs. Sevilla | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | vs. Manchester City | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | at FC Copenhagen |
Sergino Dest (AC Milan)
The 21-year-old was loaned from Barcelona to AC Milan in the summer and after getting frozen out of the Blaugrana side, the American fullback will be hoping to break through with his new side. He was immediately on the bench for the Milan derby on Sept. 4.
The Italian champions made the move for Dest after 31-year-old backup right-back Alessandro Florenzi went down to injury. Dest, who can showcase his attacking skills at right wing, will be competing for playing time against 25-year-old Italian starter Davide Calabria.
In his first few matches at Milan, Dest has indeed been second-fiddle to Calabria, but could earn more minutes as the season progresses. Dest came on as a substitute for the final half-hour of the Champions League draw against RB Salzburg to open group stage play, but did not play particularly well.
MORE: All Transfer Deadline Day moves, including Sergino Dest
AC Milan Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Dest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | RB Salzburg 1-1 AC Milan | Did not start, played 33 mins as sub |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | vs. Dinamo Zagreb | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | at Chelsea | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | vs. Chelsea | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | at Dinamo Zagreb | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | vs. RB Salzburg |
Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
After a number of failed loan spells saw his Tottenham career begin to falter, Carter-Vickers enjoyed a 2021/22 revival season at Scottish giants Celtic.
That helped earn him a permanent move to the club, and at 24 years old, the defender is hoping to push for a World Cup roster spot.
Carter-Vickers has played extremely well during his time at Celtic, establishing himself as a consistent starter at center-back. He played every minute of the club's opening six Scottish league matches, and looks to be a key part of any push for Celtic through the Champions League group stage.
The entire Celtic squad was carved open by defending champions Real Madrid in their group stage opener, with Carter-Vickers going the full 90 minutes in a heavy 3-0 defeat at the Bernabeu.
Celtic Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Carter-Vickers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | Celtic 0-3 Real Madrid | Started, played full 90 mins |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | at Shakhtar Donetsk | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | at RB Leipzig | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | vs. RB Leipzig | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | vs. Shakhtar Donetsk | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | at Real Madrid |
James Sands & Malik Tillman (Rangers)
Across the Old Firm rivalry from Carter-Vickers sit a pair of young Americans leading the charge for Rangers into the Champions League group stage.
The duo — 22-year-old defender James Sands and 20-year-old forward Malik Tillman — were instrumental in the push for a group stage spot. Tillman created the only goal in the 1-0 playoff win over PSV Eindhoven that sealed a place, while Sands put in a Man of the Match performance in earning the clean sheet. Both players have made a case for a roster spot at the World Cup.
Tillman, born in Germany with American citizenship, committed to the USMNT this past summer and made his international debut, proving a raw but bright attacking talent. His pressing led to the Rangers goal against PSV, earning a turnover deep in the opponent's half and assisting the eventual goal.
Sands is a versatile player, capable at both center-back and full-back as well as in defensive midfield, but he has carved out a starting spot in the heart of the Rangers back line alongside club stalwart Connor Goldson.
🎙️ James Sands spoke to @RangersTV after tonight's victory in the #UCL play-off. pic.twitter.com/UpZ6tykzzf
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) August 24, 2022
Both Americans at Rangers struggled mightily in their Champions League group stage opener, thumped by Ajax 4-0 with Tillman hauled off at halftime after an uninspiring first 45 minutes.
Rangers Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Tillman | Sands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 7, 2022 | Ajax 4-0 Rangers | Started, played 45 mins | Started, played full 90 mins |
| 2 | Sept. 13, 2022 | vs. Napoli | ||
| 3 | Oct. 4, 2022 | at Liverpool | ||
| 4 | Oct. 12, 2022 | vs. Liverpool | ||
| 5 | Oct. 26, 2022 | at Napoli | ||
| 6 | Nov. 1, 2022 | vs. Ajax |
Timothy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Once a regular starter for both Eintracht Frankfurt and the USMNT, Timothy Chandler has been phased out of both sides as he reaches the twilight of his career.
The 32-year-old hasn't appeared for the national team since 2016, and his club minutes have dropped sharply in the last two-plus seasons as well. After making 24 Bundesliga appearances in the 2017/18 campaign, he's seen his minutes shaved each and every year, and he was a bit-part player through the Europa League knockout stages last season as the club ran to the title.
Still, Chandler is a club legend, given he came through the Eintracht Frankfurt academy and has remained with the club since 2014. He figures to be a fringe player this Champions League campaign, but could still provide reinforcement off the bench if required. Should he see the field in this year's competition, it would mark his first Champions League experience, a nice addition to his career milestones.
Eintracht Frankfurt Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Chandler |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 7, 2022 | Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 Sporting CP | Unused substitute |
| 2 | Sept. 13, 2022 | at Marseille | |
| 3 | Oct. 4, 2022 | vs. Tottenham | |
| 4 | Oct. 12, 2022 | at Tottenham | |
| 5 | Oct. 26, 2022 | vs. Marseille | |
| 6 | Nov. 1, 2022 | at Sporting CP |
Owen Otasowie (Club Brugge)
With one international cap under his belt, coming in a friendly back in 2020, 21-year-old Owen Otasowie is still in the early stages of building his European international career.
A Wolves youth product born in New York City, he joined Belgian side Club Brugge last summer. He has barely broken into the first-team squad, struggling for time under then-manager Philippe Clement last season, making just one 17-minute appearance in the Europa League and failing to see any time in league play.
Under new management this season with Carl Hoefkens in charge, he's been given a chance, starting their Belgian Super Cup win and seeing a start in one of the first seven league fixtures. It remains to be seen whether he'll be involved in their Champions League journey this season after not featuring in the squad for its two most recent matches.
Club Brugge Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Otasowie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 7, 2022 | Club Brugge 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Unused substitute |
| 2 | Sept. 13, 2022 | at Porto | |
| 3 | Oct. 4, 2022 | vs. Atletico Madrid | |
| 4 | Oct. 12, 2022 | at Atletico Madrid | |
| 5 | Oct. 26, 2022 | vs. Porto | |
| 6 | Nov. 1, 2022 | at Bayer Leverkusen |
Other Americans in Champions League group stage
While the list above consists of players who were part of the U.S. National Team setup at one point or another, there is one player with American eligibility who has not made his way into the USMNT fold.
Josh Cohen (Maccabi Haifa)
The 30-year-old goalkeeper is the main man in net for Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa, playing every single minute of last year's league title charge.
Cohen, a UC San Diego graduate, started in goal for each of the team's six Champions League qualifying matches, conceding seven goals and earning two clean sheets. Maccabi Haifa topped Greek giants Olympiacos, Cyprus champs Apollon Limassol, and Serbian side Red Star Belgrade on their way to the Champions League group stage.
Now, he'll figure to get all the minutes in net against big teams like PSG and Juventus. That was the case in their opening match against Benfica, a 2-0 road defeat.
Maccabi Haifa Champions League group stage fixtures
| Matchday | Date | Match | Cohen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 6, 2022 | Benfica 2-0 Maccabi Haifa | Started, played full 90 mins |
| 2 | Sept. 14, 2022 | vs. PSG | |
| 3 | Oct. 5, 2022 | at Juventus | |
| 4 | Oct. 11, 2022 | vs. Juventus | |
| 5 | Oct. 25, 2022 | at PSG | |
| 6 | Nov. 2, 2022 | vs. Benfica |
