One of the most heralded U.S. Men’s National Team prospects in recent memory is headed to Major League Soccer to rejuvenate his career.
Sporting Kansas City announced the transfer of Gedion Zelalem from Arsenal on Monday.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who struggled to make a permanent mark on the Gunners’ first team, is on a contract for the 2019 season with options for 2020 and 2021.
“Gedion is a talented player and we are excited to welcome him to the club,” Sporting KC manager and sporting director Peter Vermes said. “We look forward to his integration into the squad as the team competes in multiple competitions throughout the season.”
Zelalem, who has played for the U.S. U20 and U23 squads, has spent time on loan at Rangers and VVV Venlo in the past, but he was playing with Arsenal’s U23 squad before leaving north London.
Zelalem needed to reboot his career. Hopefully the loan to SKC will allow him an opportunity to get back on tract. He always seemed to have the ability on the attacking side, but lacked the physical defensive side of the game. If he can round out his game in MLS and stay healthy he could easily be a contributor for the Club and Country.
I hope he makes an impact and finds consistency. Even prior to the injuries that have derailed his progress at Arsenal, he has been a flashy player who produces moments of extreme quality, but also plays with a huge degree of inconsistency. If he finds ways to trouble the opponent, play dangerously, and keep the ball when he’s not threading a final pass or getting onto a dangerous area, he can still be an outstanding player in MLS or abroad – as well as for the national team – but I would say this season is going to tell us a lot about the kind of player and person he is.