Columbus Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen will head to England, but a little later that originally believed.
The Crew announced the club record transfer on Tuesday. They did not provide an exact figure, but reports have indicated that the fee is around $7.5 million, which is the most MLS has ever received for a goalkeeper. It shatters the previous high mark set when Tim Howard left for Manchester United for $3 million in 2003.
Steffen will leave the Crew for England when the MLS secondary transfer window opens on July 9, 2019, so he will spend the first portion of the season in Columbus.
“This is a historic transaction for the Club and a special moment for Zack Steffen that we are immensely proud of,” said Columbus Crew SC Interim General Manager Pat Onstad. “Today’s announcement is the culmination of two and a half years of development and success for Zack.”
The 2018 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year has made 63 regular season starts in his brief professional career. He has recorded 19 shutouts in that time. He made is debut with the U.S. Men’s National Team last January and has six caps thus far.
“Any success that I have had as a goalkeeper in MLS with Crew SC is a testament to those around me who have pushed me,” Steffen said, “teammates, coaches, staff, family, friends and supporters. Today’s announcement regarding next summer is a special moment for me and I look forward to finishing my time with this Club on a strong note. I am eager to continue to put in the work to improve and be the best teammate I can.”
By that time he will have enough caps with usmnt to qualify for a permit right
If this is Man City’s reasoning, then they may be looking to give him a serious shot at playing with them, not loaning him out like everyone thought.
The automatic qualifying point would 60% of US Matches between July 9 2017 -July 9 2019. As of know that is 22 matches which Zack has played in 6 (27%). If he were to play in all matches this Jan. and March he would be up to 10/26 (38%). If he plays in all 6 of the US potential GC matches he would be at 16/32 (50%). I’m not sure how it works exactly but if Man City submits it after July 26 that eliminates the 6 2017 GC matches and would put Zack at 16 out of 26 matches which is 62%. Any GC warm-up matches would also up his percentage and give a little leeway. Or the US could magically rise up to 20th in the World Rankings and then he only needs 45% of matches played.