The American contingent in England just got one name larger on Saturday.
Donovan Pines has signed with English League One side Barnsley on a one-and-a-half year deal, the club announced. Pines, 25, joins as a free agent signing after not being re-signed by DC United at the conclusion of the 2023 MLS season.
“I’m really excited to be here,” Pines said in a club interview. “There is a lot of history here, since 1887, and I’m really excited to put my foot in the water and test it and do the best I can for the Club. I feel like there is a lot of raw talent that I’m watching and seeing in these games. Hopefully, I can contribute in a big way and be a leader on the team.”
The former DC United homegrown made his MLS debut in April 2019 and proceeded to tally 87 league appearances. He has earned two caps to date with the U.S. men’s national team as well.
“Donovan was highlighted prior to my arrival into the role and became our top target this January window,” Barnsley Interim Director of Football Bobby Hassell said. “There have been extensive discussions over the last three weeks to be able to bring Donovan to the Club and he has shown an excellent attitude in choosing this move despite having more lucrative offers from elsewhere.
“His physical stature allows him to be aerially dominant and combative whilst also possessing fantastic recovery speed, making him a versatile defender against different attacking players.”
Pines was also a college standout at the University of Maryland before signing his homegrown contract with DC United. He made 56 appearances for the Terrapins over three NCAA seasons.
Barnsley sits sixth in League One and next hosts Carlisle United on Tuesday.
he’s making $200k so if he got a top quarter salary in league one it would be a nominal pay raise. which he’d then lose a significant chunk of for double taxes. but he’s “in england.” i always thought he was overrated so it’d be a minor miracle.
how’s he getting a work permit? that would be the hurdle i see. i always thought the limited amount of lower division players in england reflected the permit system as opposed to talent, which at the lower levels there becomes USL or college IMO. anyhow, point being the quality/success required to get a permit usually funnels you to EPL or the championship. you don’t usually start for the NT to get the permit then decide to sign in league 2. the exceptions like gooch, demerit, kelman, are usually dual nationals with the right passport to get around permitting, who just want “europe” that bad, since at those levels the quality and pay drops off a cliff.
so i am a little curious how a guy who can’t get called much can sign league one, it’s almost a paradox where to get the creds to play there you’re too good to slum, but maybe he has another passport.
I think his mom might be English. His dad is the President of the University of Maryland and his bio says he met his wife while his dad was serving in the Air Force stationed in England.
Not a good move, would have done better playing in MLS than 3rd div in England 🤦‍♂️. Probably the money was the motivating factor.
“Not a good move,”
Maybe or maybe not.
You’re assuming he had an MLS option; that’s not a given.
They could get promoted. Then Pines is on a Championship team.
He’s betting on himself.
Since he is a professional player money is always a motivating factor.
Vacqui,
You’re assuming he DIDN’T have an MLS option; that’s not a given either.
They could NOT get promoted. Then Pines is STILL on a EFL League One team.
He’s betting on himself. All Stryker91 said was that in his opinion he thought he should do that in MLS, as opposed to third tier English soccer.
Since he is a professional player money is always a motivating factor.
Wow, that’s deep…thank you for enlightening us with such astute knowledge.
You shared 42 words and said nothing of note, or nothing that we all didn’t already know.
Papi Grande,
Striker91 is implying that money was probably a motivating factor.
I’m assuming none of us have spoken with Pines about it so I’m saying that he has no idea if that’s true and if is, HOW true.
The Europe vs MLS for Americans equation has changed a lot in recent years and is no longer as straight forward as Striker91 seems to believe.
Unless you have some inside information, all we know for sure right now
is that IF he had an MLS option, he turned it down.
We don’t know why. We don’t know is how much it was or was not for.
Pines is not a high profile player so it would be very interesting if some journalist could interview him and get more information on that decision and what it says about how the lower level Euro clubs view Americans and MLS players. The influence of Americans in the front offices of these clubs is something we don’t hear a lot about.
For example, Daryl Dike got his shot with Barnsley in part because one of their front office people was an American, Dane Murphy who also previously worked at DC United. He moved on to Nottingham Forest and has now left there. And Barnsley chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad will step down at the end of the season to join Minnesota United.
If you’re not interested in that sort of behind the scenes thing that’s too bad.
Vacqui,
Your responses to both Stryker and me are just clown speak. Let me break it down for you…
Striker91 is implying that money was probably a motivating factor.
YOU implied the same thing by saying, “Since he is a professional player money is always a motivating factor.” Did YOU speak to Pines to know whether money was a motivating factor? For all any of us know, he wants to hang in the great UK climate.
I’m assuming none of us have spoken with Pines about it so I’m saying that he has no idea if that’s true and if is, HOW true.
You haven’t spoken with Pines, so YOU don’t know if it’s NOT true. How do you KNOW that Stryker doesn’t have inside knowledge?
The Europe vs MLS for Americans equation has changed a lot in recent years and is no longer as straight forward as Striker91 seems to believe.
No way, really??? You are SO ASTUTE and knowledgeable! How did you become so brilliant?
Unless you have some inside information, all we know for sure right now
is that IF he had an MLS option, he turned it down.
That is all YOU know. How do you know what Stryker, or others, know? How do YOU know that someone doesn’t have inside information?
We don’t know why. We don’t know is how much it was or was not for.
YOU don’t know why…doesn’t mean others don’t know why.
Pines is not a high profile player so it would be very interesting if some journalist could interview him and get more information on that decision and what it says about how the lower level Euro clubs view Americans and MLS players. The influence of Americans in the front offices of these clubs is something we don’t hear a lot about.
Blah, blah, blah…
For example, Daryl Dike got his shot with Barnsley in part because one of their front office people was an American, Dane Murphy who also previously worked at DC United. He moved on to Nottingham Forest and has now left there. And Barnsley chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad will step down at the end of the season to join Minnesota United.
OMG, YOU are SO SMART, how did you know all this stuff that 90% of the general population that follows soccer already knows?…I want to be just like you when I grow up!
If you’re not interested in that sort of behind the scenes thing that’s too bad.
What I’m not interested in is your bullshit. Stryker posted something that was his OPINION and it IMPLIED things…welcome to an internet forum!
PG
Here’s what Striker 91 posted:
“Not a good move, would have done better playing in MLS than 3rd div in England . Probably the money was the motivating factor.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Your responses to both Stryker and me are just clown speak. Let me break it down for you…Striker91 is implying that money was probably a motivating factor…..YOU implied the same thing by saying, “Since he is a professional player money is always a motivating factor.”
Not really. Given what he posted, Striker91 seems to be implying that the money factor was more important. If he knows more then he was certainly welcome to follow up.
“Did YOU speak to Pines to know whether money was a motivating factor? For all any of us know, he wants to hang in the great UK climate…………………….I’m assuming none of us have spoken with Pines about it so I’m saying that he has no idea if that’s true and if is, HOW true…………………You haven’t spoken with Pines, so YOU don’t know if it’s NOT true. How do you KNOW that Stryker doesn’t have inside knowledge?”
If Striker91 had spoken with Pines and asked him about it he would not have written:
“ Probably the money was the motivating factor.”
He would have written something more definitive like: “The money was the motivating factor.”
“The Europe vs MLS for Americans equation has changed a lot in recent years and is no longer as straight forward as Striker91 seems to believe…No way, really??? You are SO ASTUTE and knowledgeable! How did you become so brilliant?”
Reading and paying attention helps.
“Unless you have some inside information, all we know for sure right now is that IF he had an MLS option, he turned it down….That is all YOU know. How do you know what Stryker, or others, know? How do YOU know that someone doesn’t have inside information?”
I am not a mind reader. I don’t know what Striker knows. I do know what Striker posted. We all do.
Someone DOES have inside information. But that person hasn’t been willing to confirm what Striker91 wrote.
“We don’t know why. We don’t know is how much it was or was not for…..YOU don’t know why…doesn’t mean others don’t know why.”
Of course others know why. Even Striker91 may know why. But if he does, his knowledge is not reflected in his post.
“Pines is not a high profile player so it would be very interesting if some journalist could interview him and get more information on that decision and what it says about how the lower level Euro clubs view Americans and MLS players. The influence of Americans in the front offices of these clubs is something we don’t hear a lot about.
Blah, blah, blah…
For example, Daryl Dike got his shot with Barnsley in part because one of their front office people was an American, Dane Murphy who also previously worked at DC United. He moved on to Nottingham Forest and has now left there. And Barnsley chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad will step down at the end of the season to join Minnesota United.
OMG, YOU are SO SMART, how did you know all this stuff that 90% of the general population that follows soccer already knows?…I want to be just like you when I grow up!”
Growing up is overrated. But if you must , the internet has a lot of resources. As with most everything I post, “all this stuff” is available on the internet if you care to look it up.
90%? I doubt that 90% of the “general population” know about Barnsley or Dane Murphy and his career arc. Or about Khaled El-Ahmad. And if they do so what? That 10% deserve to be informed as well. I did not realize that posting unique information was a requirement for posting on SBI.
“If you’re not interested in that sort of behind the scenes thing that’s too bad. What I’m not interested in is your bullshit. Stryker posted something that was his OPINION and it IMPLIED things…welcome to an internet forum! “
When you post an opinion on an internet forum like SBI , like any opinion, it is subject to being questioned by others with their own opinions .. welcome to the internet forum.
Pines made around 200,000 last season. That would put him right in the middle of Barnsley’s payroll. It’s doubtful he got much if any pay raise. Likely more testing what it’s like to play in Europe. Most American players don’t make much more in Europe than they do in Europe. Stars actually make less salary. Pulisic only makes 5.5 million, basically what Hector Herrera makes in Houston. Tim Weah makes the same as Cucho Hernandez. Shaqiri makes 8 million, Weston only makes 4. John Brooks makes 500,000 less than Walker Zimmerman.
“Most don’t make more in Europe than MLS. “ We really need an edit button.
Johnnyrazor,
Game bonuses in Europe are much more lucrative and add a decent chunk of change for the guys playing regularly.
Papi, not really in Pines case from what I read League One players get about 15,000 dollars a season in bonuses. Most MLS contracts have bonuses worked in as well for meeting various benchmarks keeping total wages pretty comparable between average MLS players and League One players.
—————————-
Obviously, Wes, Tim, and Christian receive payouts for European play when their teams are involved that increase their salaries or deep domestic cup runs but all would still command more as DPs in MLS. Most of the crazy bonus numbers you hear are for big world class players, of which our guys don’t rate yet. Maybe a better comparison is Reggie Cannon he had signed a contract extension for FCD for 320,000 per year, five months later his contract for Boavista was 273,000 (of course apparently Reggie didn’t see any or most of that money) according to him. Bottom line is most American players today can make as much or more staying at home. If you get a young player like Bryan Reynolds or Ricardo Pepi who are on their original pro contract their first Euro contract by 10x what they made in MLS but they could have signed extensions for pretty good money had they wanted to stay in MLS at those points in their careers.
Johnnyrazor,
Great points, and thanks for your reply. All valid points, and I got my wires crossed, as I was thinking game bonuses for European competitions.
Papi, for sure the CL bonuses are real deal. PSV has already earned around 25 million dollars just from qualifying and group stage success. Dest, Tillman, and Pepi likely have taken home decent chunks.