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Miazga joins Anderlecht on season-long loan

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Matt Miazga is on his way to Belgium as the latest loan destination for the U.S. Men’s National Team defender.

RSC Anderlecht announced the loan signing of Miazga from English Premier League side Chelsea on a one-year deal. Miazga, 25, has not featured for Chelsea under Frank Lampard and will look for consistent playing time in Belgium under Anderlecht manager and former English Premier League standout defender Vincent Kompany.

Miazga suffered a preseason injury earlier this summer and overall only has made two appearances for the English Premier League club since joining from New York Red Bulls in 2016. The USMNT defender has been loaned out five times since making the move to England, featuring at EFL Championship side Reading for the last two seasons.

“Matt can win duels, but also has pace and technique,” Anderlecht sporting director Peter Verbeke said. “A combination that is hard to find and one we always look for in a central defender, as we want to keep playing our own style of football. Matt has played in the Dutch Eredivisie, where he has won the Cup with Vitesse, the French Ligue 1 and the Championship. He’s 25 and has the necessary experience. Now it’s Matt’s turn to bring some extra competition to our defense.”

Miazga spent the entire 2019-20 season on loan with EFL Championship side Reading and will now learn from Kompany, who remains manager of his boyhood club.

Miazga has earned 18 caps for the USMNT to date, last appearing in a 7-0 Nations League win over Cuba in Oct. 2019.

Anderlecht is currently 3-4-0 so far in seven league matches, sitting fifth in the Pro League standings. Up next for the club is a date with Club Brugge on Oct. 4th.

Comments

  1. I’m not sure I would have been thrilled about this a year or two ago, but I think there are worse things for a centreback than learning from Vincent Kompany. I’m totally fine with it.

    Reply
  2. I hope this loan works out. After the way he ended last season he needed a new start. The Belgium league wouldn’t have been my preferred landing spot, but Anderlecht usually does well and challenges for Europa League. A strong season and he’ll hopefully have options for staying in Europe.
    The USMNT needs our CB’s to be playing and competing for significant minutes in good leagues. Other than Brooks we’ve got a handful of Middle of the road CBs (Alvarado, Miazga, Long) or prospects that are unproven (Richards, CCV, EPB, Robinson).
    However you look at it, we need these guys to step up and help solidify the defense.

    Reply
    • Onyewu played most of his games in Belgium and was a standout in international play for the US. So, if Miazga can do as well as Onyewu that should be good enough until the younger players are ready.

      Reply
      • AGREED! Gooch and Liege was a great time and a great team! Consistency and faces good attackers will continue to elevate his game. I still like Miazga and think he will come good in a year or two.

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