Photo by ISIphotos.com
Maurice Edu is on his way to Europe.
According to multiple sources within Major League Soccer, MLS and Toronto FC have accepted a $5 million transfer fee for Edu from Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. Edu is stil finalizing personal terms with Rangers, but a deal is expected to be completed soon.
Edu joins Jozy Altidore ($10 million move to Villarreal) and Brad Guzan ($1.5 million move to Aston Villa) on the list of MLS standouts to make moves to Europe this summer. Who do you think is next to go?
Share your thought’s on Edu’s move, and on who you think will go next, in the comments section below.
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Granted if this is true it seems to be good value for a player who in my opinion has not significantly advanced this season from his first year with TFC.
But sitting on a ton of allocation dollars, cap room, roster room and knowing that both his coach and fans are desperately calling for reinforcements is making TFC fans very upset.
Mo will be wise to not show his face at BMO Field if after today all we have are some transfer dollars from Rangers and an even thinner side. MLS is a “parity” league. The league rules are designed to ensure wherever possible that each team has a reasonable chance of competing. There is no reason with all the resources at hand that Mo cannot reinforce the side at the front and at the back for a playoff run without mortgaging our future. I for one do not buy the “FieldTurf” or “playing in Canada” excuses he is spouting so far as to why we cannot get adequate reinforcements for a playoff run. Mo actually stated in a TV interview yesterday that he is about to hire a South American scout in the next few days. A little late don’t you think Mo??? Maybe if you did this last year we would have not had to rely on the few contacts you still have in the UK that have come up dry.
Bottom line for me and a lot of TFC fans is this. If you can’t bring in what we need to compete in this league Mo, you should either resign or be fired.
Chickenlittle – I agree with what you are saying. Patience grasshoppers. The league is hitting a new era. It’s a matter of time until all these transfers pay off in higher salaries, resulting in keeping more players and enticing better players to the MLS. These transfers have to make the PA smile. They have something to target in the upcoming CBA talks.
Great move Edu. More money and he can go over there and test himself in Europe. It always helps going to a team that already has an established American to help with the transition.
LOL look at Reyna in the background of that pic!
I’m not sure about the work permit process in Scotland, but there should be similar if not identical work permit guidelines for non-EU players in both England and Scotland. However, the appeal process for denied work permits might be easier in Scotland and I imagine that Rangers and Celtic tend to get their way. Just the fact that they want to buy a player should be judged that he is worthy of playing in the SPL against the minnows of the league.
Good move for Edu and good business for MLS and Toronto. $5 Million might be the second highest fee paid for a player in MLS history. Anyone who thinks the MLS isn’t getting value for Edu is not rooted in reality.
MLS is playing this game very well. The pressure of the end of the transfer window makes teams desperate to fill their rosters and makes the more well off clubs pay more than they normally would.
Edu is a good player and will do well for Rangers.
The MLS has to walk a fine line, because at somepoint Edu and players like him would be able to go to Europe for nothing. They have to maximize their profit, because players will leave to get more money.
Like most what are the rules on foreign players in the SPL? If it’s work permit based, how is Edu going to get one, I don’t think he has the national team call ups to acquire one. I think the transfer fee might appear low to someone because he is young and a promising player, but maybe MLS has learned from their mistakes such as not accepting the Benfica offer for EJ a couple years ago. Until MLS improves, this is a good way for them to deal business sell their top prospects while their value is high. Maybe one day if we get another prospect as hyped up as Donovan was at age 19, we can get $15-20 million out of it.
We rode the hype machine all the way to 5 Million!!! I wish all you guys would have watched game in game out at TFC. Your opinion of him might not have been so enthusiastic.
so now TFC gets a small % of the transfer as an allocation or “salary cap bump” right?
they also dropped a portion of cunningham’s salary in the dalls trade. Mo has to have something in the works
does he not need a permit because its scotland and not england?
thats the only thing i can think of.
Its deals like this that will eventually lead to a higher salary cap and more depth in the MLS. So far that reason, it’s a very good thing.
Dang, two weeks too late for Rangers. Edu might’ve helped them stay in the UEFA Cup.
GO MO!
Yeah i agree, Chris, hate to see it but thats just how its going to be.. GL Edu
So how does Mo qualify for a Work Permit? Rangers I’m sure has some pull with the Home Office, regardless.
I am stoked at this move. Totally out of the blue. $5 million is some coin for Rangers even though they have money they usually don’t break the bank and are conservative. The question looms where will Edu play? CB or DMF? Beasley will help Edu break into Scottish life and it will be fun to follow Rangers with two Yanks.
Remember, MLS has no business charging a higher fee until our players are a proven commodity. As of now, can anyone name a truly successful American field player?? I can only think of Bradley, and we can argue how proven he is. As more US players succeed overseas, the price goes up.
Posted by: Erik | August 15, 2008 at 12:04 PM
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I disagree. They want to pay us the money, and our league is getting drained of talent. Pick these teams’ pockets for all they have.
Rangers?!?!?! Damn, I liked Edu too.
This is good for MLS. The more players see MLS selling other players to Europe, the more these players will want to come to MLS. Nothing wrong with MLS being a feeder league to Europe. We have to start somewhere. Also, it helps me out a bit. When an MLS player transfers to Europe, I have actually followed those European teams so my overall soccer knowledge has increased. Works for me!
Good luck!
couple of points:
– good for MO, this is possibly the most money MLS/TFC could get for him
– bad for TFC…very thin lineup with all the injury problems (and no new players coming in)
– How about MO on the cover of FIFA 09 wearing the TFC kit? Will they change it now?
I think the next ones to go will be any of the following:
Landon Donovan
Robbie Rogers
Sacha Klejstan
Stuart Holden (UK work permit ready to go)
Kenny Cooper (ditto on the UK permit, although MLS will likely sell him after the season is over)
and possibly Edson Buddle
At least those are the guys I’d be interested in if I were running a team in Europe
Chris, that’s how it is around the world. Look at Scandinavian leagues. Anyone who is any good in those leagues ends up moving to a bigger league in Europe.
Remember, MLS has no business charging a higher fee until our players are a proven commodity. As of now, can anyone name a truly successful American field player?? I can only think of Bradley, and we can argue how proven he is. As more US players succeed overseas, the price goes up.
I think it will be a good move for Edu for the following reasons:
(1) More competition for places will help him develop
(2) Good coach to develop under
(3) More experience in hostile environments
(4) Opportunity to play in Champions League so he will develop a better understanding of the European game
(5) In Champions League will get to test himself against best players in the world
(6) More money for him
Best of luck to him
This is great for Mo. And it’s not bad for MLS. I know everyone hates to see top talent go, but let’s be realistic. If Europe really wants the guy, they’ll get him. Top European players are earning 2x, 3x, 4x or even 5x the $2M payroll / salary cap for entire MLS teams!
This is a natural part of MLS evolution. If they reinvest this money wisely, they can grow the league and slowly raise the amount they can pay for players. Rather than bring in expensive, older internationals with this money, I hope MLS invests in youth development / training. It’s not sexy, and it doesn’t sell tickets right away, but it move MLS along their ‘evolution’ — maybe like a Ligue 1 or Eredivisie where those teams have great young talent that often gets poached by larger clubs, but is still exciting to watch the future stars of tomorrow. And those two leagues have a bit better financial footing so the big teams (PSV, Ajax, PSG, Lyon) can actually afford to keep some of their stars until transfer fees get ridiculous and someone like Abramovich opens his wallet.
Please find a picture that does not include Andy Welsh!!
Good for Mo, and good for TFC….our formation has been accomodating too many midfielders….if the other Mo can just get us a striker before the end of the day please!
I think the Olympians have to be on the list (many clubs likely had favorites and sent scouts to see them – or Nigerians/Dutch players – in real action):
#1 Holden – kid has Scottish passport I suspect and could play in the EPL – provided great service from the wings – played comfortably in the middle – and worked/tackled hard (did I mention he scored a goal too?)
#2 Sascha – good two way midfielder – plenty of game tape on him at ChivasUSA and in this tournament to prove his worth. Scored his two goals and his confidence in being the PK taker v. Nigeria speaks to his teammates/coaches trust.
#3 Wynne – don’t think it’s going to happen but he’s on the list for the heck of it. The same scouts that watched him the U20s likely updated their notes for the Olympics – speed check – improvement in tactical awareness? sort of – improvement in crossing? sort of. Overall buy? Sort of – but probably not enough to entice MLS to sell or Wynne frankly to want to leave his set-up at Toronto. He still has work to do and what better place for a young man like that than at Toronto. . . especially if he wants to lock down a spot as a right back option for 2010.
Folks, think about it. There are more and more players going to Europe because MLS has become quality enough to develop players who are desired by big clubs. This is a very good thing. Remember, MLS is only 12 years old. It will get there.
Hmm, I wonder how Taylor Twellman feels about all of these transfers…
Edu $5 mil
Jozy $10 mil
Guzan $1.5 mil
Toja $???
Toja probably went for around $500k so MLS has done $17 million in exports this season.
i’m not really disappointed that Edu would go to Rangers nor that MLS would sell him. But I am disappointed that he went for so cheap. A 22-year-old central midfielder with his physique and versatility from any other country would be sold for quite a bit more. I think MLS needs to start demanding higher fees.
supermetro wrote
“People leave all the time in all the leagues in the world; besises, we all know these players will all end up in MLS some years from now better and with more experience.”
yeah when they are 34 and have nothing left to offer and take one last paycheck.
Nigerian passport=UK work permit???
People need to realize the MLS is a minor league. And the more good players that move the better it is for the league. look at some of the talent we are getting from central and south america. the reason is because they know that the bigger leagues scout the mls.
Dan,
The problem is that money isn’t reinvested in new players because of the cap. So basically you won’t be able to get as good of a player as the one you just sold. Transfers in MLS work different then every other league.
People leave all the time in all the leagues in the world; besises, we all know these players will all end up in MLS some years from now better and with more experience. Remember we need most of our national team guys playing in Europe if we’re seriously thinking about making a splash in WC2010; you heard me Sasha and Parkhurst and you Landon!
Chris, every league that knows what it’s doing knows it should sell when the bid is high. Nearly 6 million is quite a sum for MLS coffers, and sales like this allow for a lot of fresh faces to make their MLS debuts.
It also helps the league develop relationships with other worldwide leagues, something very important to its future.
Chris I’m starting to feel the same way about this league. The more good players leave the less interest I have in the league. All they ever get to replace these kind of players are over the hill 30 somethings with nothing left in the tank who nobody else wants.
BFBS I believe but I can’t say for sure, that Scotland is very easy to get a permit to play in unlike the EPL
Looks like if you want to go to Europe as a young American in MLS, you’ve gotta make the cover of FIFA.
So, who’s left these days to play in our league?
Chris of course they leave. Its all money talks, he will probably be making 4 times atleast what he’s making here. Think he gets atleast 540k just for the transfer that what he probably makes in two seasons alone. But I’m glad to see him go I think he will be at the Rangers for a year or two before making a move to the EPL or somewhere else.
Can somebody please explain the permit situation? Various folks on various sites have the same question but nobody explained why a permit won’t be an issue.
It looks like a good move. Hopefully he’ll be able to get some playing time. Also have Beasley as a teammate will help him get used to Europe. I know it looks bad for MLS to have so many players leaving, but it is still obvious MLS is still a young league and Edu can get much more experience in Europe. While he is still young, Edu can learn so much more in Europe: the fast speed of the game, better technical skills, and even the mental part of playing in big competitions as UEFA Cup. Good luck Edu!
Overall I think it is good for the league. If I were in their shoes and had a chance to go play n front of 50,000 fanatical fans for more money I would. In the long run these players will come back and improve the quality of play in the MLS
Good luck to Maurice Edu! I do agree that MLS has to do a better job at keeping their young talents but right now it is not just about money but experience. Regardless, good luck Maurice Edu in europe!
Don’t worry, Chris. I am sure that MLS will divert these new funds toward securing a 37 year-old forward who was great ten years ago.
Holy crud that came around quickly. How the heck does he sell for 5.75 mil and Guzan gets the 1.5 mil shaft?
Good luck Mo! Kick some butt and get ready for WCQ!
I’m sick of this league. Any player worth anything leaves the first chance they get.
With all the call ups he gets in the summer , this is probably best for everyone involed
If he can’t be at TFC I’m glad he’ll be at Rangers. I think this will be a great step for him to develop into an even better player. Good luck on the move Mo.
Go get em Mo.