Photo by Chris Putman/ISIphotos.com
Another young American attacking talent appears to be taking his game overseas.
According to a report out of Sweden, University of North Carolina forward Billy Schuler will sign with second-division club Hammarby — the team coached by former U.S. international Gregg Berhalter — pending a physical. Schuler joins Virginia's Brian Span as NCAA players who have bolted for professional deals overseas. Span signed with another Swedish club, top-flight outfit Djurgardens.
Schuler, who was included on the initial combine roster released by MLS, was offered a Generation adidas deal by MLS but turned that down to pursue European options instead. Had he signed with the league, he would have been one of the first names to come off the board in next week's SuperDraft. He helped lead UNC to the NCAA championship, scoring 16 goals as a redshirt junior this past season for the Tar Heels.
In addition to playing for Berhalter, Schuler will team with former University of Illinois-Chicago and Chicago Fire midfielder Baggio Husidic, who signed with Hammarby a couple of weeks ago.