Patrick Agyemang has become the latest American to join the EFL Championship.
EFL Championship side Derby County acquired Agyemang in a permanent deal from MLS club Charlotte FC, both clubs announced Tuesday. Charlotte FC received a club-record fee for the American forward and now hold a sell-on fee, should Derby County transfer Agyemang in the future.
“It’s been exciting,” Agyemang said in a club interview. “I’ve definitely been hearing great things about the club and the fans as well. I’ve always wanted to be part of something special and to now finally be here it’s amazing.”
The 24-year-old forward has previously been on the radar of several English second-division clubs over the past year. He’s been one of Charlotte FC’s best attacking threats over his three MLS seasons, totaling 17 goals and four assists in 59 league appearances.
Agyemang recently scored twice for the U.S. men’s national team during its June-July schedule. The Connecticut native helped Mauricio Pochettino’s squad reach the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final before suffering a 2-1 loss to Mexico.
Agyemang joins several other American forwards such as Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, and Daryl Dike in England’s second-tier for the upcoming season.
“I always wanted to take the next step and be in the position to better my career and I think this step going into the Championship and being around passionate fans and a good group of guys is something I thought is needed for my step,” Agyemang said when asked about the appeal of joining a club like Derby County.
Derby County avoided relegation back to EFL League One last season, finishing outside of the relegation zone by one point. John Eustace’s Rams will open the 2025-26 Championship season at Stoke City on August 9.
The most concrete and obvious benefit for Patrick is he should make a lot more money.
He made about $104,000 MLS minimum.
At Derby County, his salary is expected to be between $1.2 million and $1.5 million annually.
buried at the bottom of the team’s official announcement, “Agyemang has been playing for most of the 2025 Major League Soccer season with a hernia injury that has been managed without surgery but meant he has been playing in discomfort. With a long-term view in mind, all parties have agreed he will undergo routine surgery and is therefore likely to miss the opening games of the 2025/26 season.”
IV,
Hmmm…interesting about Agyemang playing with a hernia injury and needing surgery for it.
And agreed, he is being brought in to produce now…he is not a teenager being brought in to be developed for the future.
I’m assuming a sports hernia, which probably rules him out for the September window.
Does Derby have any coach with a history of developing forwards? He’s big and athletic, but extremely raw technically and unrefined as a finisher.
first off, he’s gonna get hernia surgery which means he probably doesn’t do much preseason when they have more time and fewer games.
second, european teams sign 18 year olds for their academy and teach them up on youth or II teams. at age 24 agyemang is an adult signing being brought in to produce right away.
so this is not a likely situation for them to bother sandpapering his rough sides. looks to me like eustace had derby playing 352 end of last season. in winter 2025, before he moved, he had blackburn playing a 4231.
We shall see how he does. Now it will be a competition for a potential WC spot with him competing against Wright, Dike, and Downs. I would say Sargent, but it seems likely Sargent will be playing in either the Bundesliga or EPL.
Not to mention Charlie Kelman.
2tone,
He’s competing with himself.
There is no other legit targetman in the picture( though I wonder if Pefok could not fill that role ).
As others have pointed out if he does well he might have a case for a WC spot.
It would really help him if the number of players is 26 instead of 23.
Completely disagree. Downs and Dike are big target men. He will be competing against those two, and Sargent is good with his back to goal too.
If Dike and Downs are in the USMNT target man competition with Patrick, he’s got a huge leg up on both.
Seems like a smart move, not stepping up to high to soon. He should get some minutes and efl is really physical but also faster vs mls so hopefully he will grow into it nicely and progress. I don’t think he starts in 2026, but he has a profile we lack in out roster (big physical center forward who can play hold-up decently) so I think if he has a encouraging season in England he’ll make the WC squad. Good luck!
The most concrete and obvious benefit for Patrick is he should make a lot more money.
He made about $104,000 MLS minimum.
At Derby County, his salary is expected to be between $1.2 million and $1.5 million annually.