Sheffield United had been seeking defensive help this summer ahead of its return to the English Premier League and now received some in the form of a thriving American centerback.
Auston Trusty has joined the Blades on a permanent deal from Arsenal, both clubs announced Thursday. Arsenal will receive roughly a £4.58 million transfer fee for Trusty, while the defender signed a four-year contract at Bramall Lane.
Trusty should fit right into the Blades defensive corps, which mainly consists of a three-centerback system.
“I am more than excited,” Trusty said in an interview. “The opportunity to be here at this historic club, and an opportunity to play in the Premier League and show my ability, it is everything I could have ever dreamed of growing up as a kid. In Pennsylvania, this was a dream – almost an impossible dream but I believed in myself and the opportunity has come around, it is everything that I dreamed for.
“It is crazy how quick things happen in football,” he added. “I have just come back from a US tour with Arsenal and a couple of days later I am sitting here doing this interview. Things did happen very quick, but that’s how football works. I was really looking for an opportunity so as soon as it came about, things and details were ironed out. I am here, I wasn’t wasting any time.”
Trusty was named Birmingham City Supporters’ Player of the Season after helping John Eustace’s squad to a 17th-place finish while on loan last year. The former Colorado Rapids and Philadelphia Union defender scored four goals and registered two assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for the Blues.
The 24-year-old impressed with the U.S. men’s national team in March, making his debut in a 7-1 Concacaf Nations League victory over Grenada. Trusty also played the final 11 minutes of June’s 2-0 CNL Finals victory over Canada.
“I’m delighted we’ve managed to get this one over the line, it is one of the positions we’ve been looking to fill and it is with one our own, a permanent transfer rather than a loan,” Blades manager Paul Heckingbottom added. “He is at a good age to progress, he has experience having played at international level and in the Championship last year, where we monitored him and he picked up Birmingham’s player of the year award. As a coaching team we feel that he has the athleticism and desire to succeed in the Premier League.”
Sheffield United finished second in the Championship last season, earning automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
Casual fan: US players are being developed in Europe. Me: Trusty developed in the Philly Union academy (US pipeline) and made it to the EPL. Casual fan: But, but, but no US coaches… are in the EPL. Me: Did you use the same argument for European coaches in the NBA? The NBA is great with no European cor South American coaches. The NFL is great with no South American or European coaches. Casual fans : I like to disagree with people who make sense. Every stance or statement I make, I’ll just moved the goalposts in the argument. Me: Cool, now I realize the US soccer fans are just as dumb as every other sports fan base. Stop pretending like you are the opposite of dum.
“Trusty developed in the Philly Union academy (US pipeline) and made it to the EPL”
This supposed to mean what exactly? Brenden did the same and failed pretty miserably.
Trusty hasn’t played a game in the EPL. Yet.
US players have been signed by EPL teams going way back to at least Jonathan Spector and Kenny Cooper Jr. Spector went on to have a very respectable EPL career while Kenny did not make it with Man. U.
Lletget spent 4 years on West Ham’s books and never played an EPL League game.
Stu Holden went straight to Bolton from the Dynamo and was , before injury, a budding star.
Geoff Cameron walked straight onto Stoke City’s team from the Dynamo and became indispensable for years.
Leeds had three Americans on their club last season and I wouldn’t say it made the demand for American players greater. Tyler? He gave you both sides, playing at an EPL level but then being out and hurting the team with his long term absence through injury. I don’t know if he helps the image of USMNT players or hurts it.
There are more and better American players around today, period, than there were say 10 years ago.
But becoming a regular EPL player remains elusive for any player from anywhere.
In 2023-2024, how many Americans will PLAY on a regular basis in the EPL?
Roughly 10 years ago you had, at least Clint Dempsey, Geoff Cameron, Brad Guzan, Timmy Howard as regular starters in the EPL.
Going into 2023-2024 You have Antonee, Tim Ream( maybe), Flo ( maybe) .
Three today vs. four roughly ten years ago.
And Antonee and Flo were not developed in America.
So, again, we have Tim Ream to save the day. Maybe.
Good move for him.
Going to be tough since Sheffield is relegation bait, but it’s definitely a huge opportunity for the guy. A sobering soccernomics statistic, though, since I’ve been on this tangent for awhile now: while they’ll undoubtedly seek to add players Sheffield’s total payroll at the moment is £14 million – or $17.7 million dollars US.
That would put them just fifth in MLS in spending, right behind the Chicago Fire. And these guys are going to try to stay up in the Premier League. Woof. (Don’t even ask about Luton Town…they spend a third of that, which would easily put them dead-last in MLS.)
Last year Leeds United spent in excess of £37 million – which translates to $47 million US…more than double what any MLS squad spends. And still got relegated.
So…okay then. Have fun, fellas. The concern here is that instead of getting invaluable experience, Trusty could instead wind up shelled. I’m just as glad Ethan Horvath is out of Luton Town this year for exactly that reason. That’s a great way to break a keeper. I just hope this ends up being a good experience for Trusty, not a crushing one.
Do the owners of Sheffield United want to take the money and run or try to stay up? A new team entering the EPL can get up to $200 million over 3 years, so they could triple their payroll. Will they be splurging during August or wait until the January transfer window? Their current payroll doesn’t mean much at this point.
They are buying Trusty and are trying to buy Tuanzebe, late of Man U.
I did not realize this but when you get promoted you are limited to two loans. That’s probably why they are buying Trusty who was available for loan or a buy. This is probably good for Trusty as Arsenal was pretty loaded with central defenders.
Saving a loan means they still have two loans and the feeling is they are going to need them for the likely more pricey attacking options.
You’re right that they are a ways from finishing their shopping yet.
Your money tangent has been a useful insight but it does not seem to apply equally across the board.
Obviously, different teams have different needs but prolific goal scorers like Kane and Haaland and creative midfielders like Enzo Fernandez , Pogba or DeBruyne generally get more than defenders .
Particularly young backup central defenders / left backs like Trusty.
Pulisic’s problem was being in the wrong category of player to be playing at Chelsea.
So Trusty’s valuation may be modest but given the current makeup of that team, it looks like he may have a shot to win a roster spot.