Transfer deadline day in Europe gets to be a bigger deal each year in the United States as more American-linked talent is plucked to help fortify rosters abroad.
Several major moves linked to MLS leading men – including one that was significantly more “major” than others – highlighted the domestic influence of today’s European “secondary” transfer window closing. (The “Primary” transfer window is in summer.)
Over the last two days, three star performers who cut their professional teeth in MLS moved abroad. So did two Englishmen, including one that everyone knows quite well.
David Beckham’s move to Paris Saint-Germain broke first thing this morning, adding some drama and newsiness to the day. He may be 37, clearly in the winter of his career, but he’s still David Beckham.
(MORE: Where Beckham fits tactically for PSG and Carlo Ancelotti)
Far less heralded Simon Dawkins is moving to Aston Villa, where he will link up with U.S. internationals Eric Lichaj and Brad Guzan. That’s a bummer for San Jose, where Dawkins had been on loan from Tottenham over the last two seasons. Management at Buck Shaw Stadium had hopes of keeping the young midfielder for one more season in the Bay.
And Kei Kamara’s move out of Sporting Kansas City to England’s Norwich City reminded us of the price for success; two big years for the club has made Sporting Park a more frequent destination for scouts from abroad. Kamara probably never got quite all the credit he deserved, but check out this number: the Sierra Leone international has 30 goals over three seasons for SKC. Add that to the tracking and effort up and down the right side, and that’s flat out getting it done.
(MORE: SKC chairman Robb Heineman explains the club’s thinking)
D.C. United has a hold to fill at right back, but does have a two-third percentage of a reported $3 million transfer fee to work with. Andy Najar (pictured) went to Belgium giant Anderlecht in one of the day’s big talkers.
He leaves on good terms, and will be missed around RFK for more than all that right-sided ability. His classy open letter to fans won’t be forgotten by La Barra Brava and the other club supporters.
Considering that Najar, a 19-year-old Honduran international has been training with the Brussels club for most of the month, the move comes as little surprise. It also underscores what U.S. national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann keeps remiding us about opportunity lost, about how that the Olympic qualification failure opened doors for young Hondurans that might have gone to American players. Najar and Roger Espinoza, who moved to Wigan Athletic in early January, were more or less “discovered” at the London Olympics.
Neither was Brek Shea’s move to Stoke City a shocker, although that one was held up as FC Dallas, MLS and Stoke City haggled over a transfer price that looked fairly low when first reported at $3.5 million. Final sale price now appears closer to $4 million, which gives FCD some money to spend in the market. They need it.
(MORE: FC Dallas attacking cupboard looks fairly bare at the moment.
Speaking of FC Dallas, former midfielder Julian de Guzman, a Canadian international who had spent almost four seasons in Toronto, moved to SSV Jahn Regensburg of the 2.Bundesliga, Germany’s second tier.
