A few Americans made moves in Europe ahead of the close of the summer transfer window, but some of the bigger names being tossed around the rumor mill stayed put.
The major move to Arsenal never materialized for Clint Dempsey, who remains at Fulham. Jermaine Jones is still out of favor at Schalke. Ricardo Clark is still in the 2. Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankurt. Eric Lichaj suffered a hip injury that got in the way of any potential loan move back to Leeds United. Brad Guzan is still the backup goalkeeper at Aston Villa.
After much talk about Americans making moves, Michael Bradley was the only high-profile American to secure a much-needed move, getting a fresh start in Italy with Chievo Verona.
Other Americans to find new addresses include centerback Gale Agbossoumonde, who will be on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt; defender Daniel Williams, who signed a three-year deal with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; striker Tony Taylor, who went on loan to Atletico CP in Portugal's second division; and 18-year-old forward Villyan Bijev, who was loaned from Liverpool to Fortuna Dusseldorf.
As for the road ahead for those who didn't move:
Dempsey is still in a good spot, as a consistent starter and scoring threat on a Fulham team that improved itself by bringing in Bryan Ruiz and Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera.
Jones likely couldn't find a suitor willing to take on his contract, but a loan, either elsewhere in Germany or perhaps another one in England, seems like a likely proposition down the line.
Clark, who was grouped in with Bradley and Jones among players who needed to sort out club issues during Jurgen Klinsmann's explanation of his roster for the upcoming friendlies, will have to fight for his place at Frankfurt, and a loan remains an option for him, too.
Upon his return from injury, Lichaj remains a good bet to be loaned out during the winter, as Leeds still rates him very highly after his loan stint there last season. Aston Villa brought in right back Alan Hutton from Tottenham, creating even more competition at Lichaj's position.
As for Guzan, a loan to a League Championship side, like the one he had at Hull City last year, remains a possibility while he maintains his duties as Aston Villa's backup goalkeeper.
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What are your thoughts about the Americans that did, and did not, move during the transfer window? Disappointed Dempsey didn't complete the rumored move to Arsenal of Paris St. Germain? Surprised that Jones is still at Schalke?
Share your thoughts below.
Jermaine – Jones, the technology is very good.
Dempsey would never had gotten playing time at Arsenal, since he isn’t French. I’d rather have Americans getting decent playing time at mid-table clubs than have them riding the pine at big clubs anyday.
Good for Dempsey that he stayed at Fulham, though I’m not sure if Jols values him as much as past managers of the side did.
Good move for Bradley to the Serie A.
Bad news for Jones and Clark, especially for Clark, who will be fighting with another American for time, and probably was told his centerback experiment is over.