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Jozy Altidore’s reported $10 million move to Villarreal is closer to completion.
Altidore reached an agreement on personal terms with Villarreal on Tuesday and is set to sign a six-year deal with the Spanish Premier League club, sources told SBI on Tuesday. He will be introduced as Villarreal’s newest signing at a press conference on Wednesday, after passing a physical and signing his new contract.
There are no details available on the sum of Altidore’s new deal but it is safe to say it is significantly higher than the $108,333 he was due to make for the Red Bulls for the entire 2008 season.
Altidore becomes the fourth Red Bulls/MetroStars player to transfer to Europe, joining fellow U.S. national team players Tim Howard and Michael Bradley as well as Haitian striker Peguero Jean Philippe.
Altidore’s transfer to Villarreal will become official on July 1, when the European transfer window formally opens.
Altidore is expected to be loaned out to a smaller La Liga club for the 2008/2009 season, with Recreativo Huelva the most likely destination for the 18-year-old American striker.
For those of you who missed it, here is my story on Altidore’s move to Villarreal on ESPN.com. Talk about a whirlwind two years and change for Altidore. Who could have imagined that his career would take off so fast?
Okay, so maybe I did see this coming back when he was drafted (okay, so maybe not this fast). I wrote that Josmer Altidore would be a star and he’s well on his way.
What do you think about Altidore’s departure? Sad to see him go? Excited to see how he progresses playing in a competitive league like the Spanish Primera? Eager to see him take Giuseppe Rossi’s job?
Share your thoughts below.