U.S. Under-23 national team defender Gale Agbossoumonde has endured a rough road in his quest for regular playing time since turning pro two years ago. With a recent stint at Eintracht Frankfurt failing to deliver him playing time, Agbossoumonde looked poised for a move to Major League Soccer.
That move will not be happening.
Agbossoumonde, 20, rejected a contract offer from Major League Soccer this week, choosing instead to see out the final year of his current deal with Traffic Sports. He is expected to make a move to play for top NASL side Carolina Railhawks for the upcoming season, with an eye toward a potential move back to Europe as a free agent at the end of the year.
With the Olympics looming this summer, and with Agbossoumonde expected to be a part of the U.S. Olympic team set-up, he could wind up playing himself into a big free agent move to Europe if he shows well at the Olympics.
Final details on the MLS offer made to Agbossoumonde were not made available to SBI, but it is believed to have been a four-year deal in the salary range of the lower Generation adidas contract offers given to college underclassmen ahead of the 2012 MLS Draft.
Having earned his first and only senior national team cap in November of 2010, Agbossoumonde is one of the best young defensive prospects in the U.S. national team pool, but a lack of regular playing time has slowed his growth as a player and could wind up costing him a chance to star on the Olympic team. As it stands, the centerback options in the Olympic pool are thin and Agbossoumonde should have a chance to earn a regular role, especially if he finds consistent playing time.
That is something the Carolina Railhawks could provide if they can complete a deal for the U.S. youth international.