ASN’s Brian Sciaretta is again from the World Cup to interrupt down the summer time switch window for American gamers
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
July 21, 2026
7:00 AM
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Strikes and information
Kevin Paredes indicators with Utrecht: The 2024 U.S. Olympic staff winger noticed his contract with Wolfsburg expire after the 2025/26 season the place he performed simply 205 minutes as a result of an ankle harm. The season earlier than he was restricted to 125 minutes. Wolfsburg was relegated after the season and opted to not signal Paredes to a brand new deal. Now Paredes has signed for Utrecht within the Eredivisie.
Utrecht completed sixth within the Eredivisie final season and is rarely prime staff within the league however is often prime half. However this transfer will not be about Paredes and Utrecht, it’s about whether or not Paredes can keep wholesome. If he can, he’s in a strong place to rebuild his profession.
Benjamin Cremaschi transfers to Parma: 2025 U.S. U-20 Golden Boot winner Benja Cremaschi spent 2025/26 on mortgage from Inter Miami to Parma in Serie A. For a number of months, he was glued to the bench with just a few late-game cameos however in March that confirmed indicators of fixing. However on March 13, Cremaschi injured his knee and was out for the remainder of the season. Regardless of that, this summer time Parma exercised its choice to purchase on the mortgage from Inter Miami regardless of restricted minutes. That’s spectacular as a result of Cremaschi will need to have proven sufficient in coaching that he may very well be a part of the staff’s future. Probably a part of the U.S. Olympic staff for 2028, Cremaschi may very well be poised for a breakout if he’s wholesome for preseason.
James Sands returns to New York Metropolis: Sands made a go of it within the Bundesliga the final two seasons on mortgage with St. Pauli. However every of his final two seasons ended with a damaged ankle. The U.S. worldwide defensive midfielder performed effectively for St. Pauli and the staff was much better with him on the sphere. However with out Sands for the ultimate two months of the season, St. Pauli struggled and was relegated. Sands wanted to come back residence and reset his profession after two critical ankle accidents. He’s in a great spot. NYCFC signed him to an extension and the membership will spend cash aggressively forward of its transfer into a brand new stadium. He ought to get again right into a successful mindset once more and can play if he’s wholesome.
A 3rd return to Europe will not be out of the query, however Sands wants to stay round for awhile in New York and present that he’s wholesome and that his ankle accidents are firmly up to now.
Bryan Reynolds transfers to Rennes: Reynolds has spent the final 4 years at Westerlo and is now pushing for a return to one among Europe’s prime leagues with Rennes. The previous FC Dallas homegrown proper again first moved to Roma earlier than heading to Belgium, after first with Kortrijk after which Westerlo on mortgage, earlier than a full switch. He doubtless stayed at Westerlo two years too lengthy, however the small Belgian membership was an excellent cease to permit him to completely perceive the precise again place (after he developed as a ahead).
Now 25, it raises the query whether or not Reynolds is shifting to a spot the place he can begin? Rennes has choices in that place together with Alidu Seidu (who additionally performs as a central defender), Polish worldwide Przemys?aw Frankowski, and Rayan Bamba who spent final season on mortgage with Ligue 1 aspect Nancy.
Diego Kochen on mortgage to Lyngby: U.S. youth worldwide and sure Olympic starter Diego Kochen has lastly discovered a house the place he can doubtless get first staff minutes together with his membership. The Florida native will spend 2026/27 on mortgage with Lyngby, which simply earned promotion to the Danish Superliga in Might. It is rather arduous to seek out groups the place a younger goalkeeper can play on mortgage, and this may very well be a pleasant place to realize that objective. Lyngby shall be determined to remain up and Kochen will play a giant function in that. We are going to be taught so much about him as a goalkeeper very quickly.
Neil Pierre: After spending 2025/26 on mortgage with Lyngby the place he helped the staff to promotion to the Danish Superliga, Pierre has returned to his father or mother membership, the Philadelphia Union. He’s now in a significantly better place to start out for the Union, and the mortgage served its objective. There’s a clear opening on the Philadelphia Union, who had a depressing begin to the 2026 season and are in final place. He’s one of many prime central defenders within the U.S. U-20 participant pool and it might be actually necessary for him to start out enjoying commonly for the Union. It appears like that’s going to occur.
Cole Campbell to SV Elversberg: The 2025/26 season was horrible for Campbell who struggled on the U-20 World Cup in September, didn’t play for Borussia Dortmund, after which went on mortgage to Hoffenheim the place he additionally didn’t play a lot. This summer time he moved on full switch to SV Elversberg, which is a small membership that simply received promotion to the Bundesliga. Elversberg is in an uphill membership to outlive the season within the prime tier, however the membership’s technique is to herald a number of younger and hungry gamers to attempt to make a distinction.
Together with Campbell, Elversberg additionally made a collection of additives. Attacking midfielder Noah Darvich, 19, joins on mortgage from Stuttgart. Attacking midfielder Francis Okyeka, 19, joins on mortgage from Leverkusen. Winger Maurice Krattenmacher, 21, signed from Bayern Munich after a mortgage from Hertha BSC final season. There are others rumored to be becoming a member of too.
Campbell has struggled to discover a place to play. This must be that chance.
Max Dietz to Górnik Zabrze: After three years with Greuther Furth within the 2.Bundesliga, the 2024 U.S. Olympic staff defensive midfielder/central defender Max Dietz is on his method to Górnik Zabrze in Poland’s Ekstraklasa. It’s a good transfer for Dietz as Greuther Furth goes nowhere in Germany’s 2.Bundesliga and Górnik Zabrze completed second in Poland final season. Plus, this can permit Dietz to play in European soccer. Dietz struggled final season, however enjoying for successful membership may assist convey out one of the best in him.
Daryl Dike to Orlando Metropolis: After Dike’s contract with West Bromwich Albion expired in June, the middle ahead will return residence to his first membership, Orlando Metropolis, to hope to leap begin his profession. Dike’s profession has been suffering from critical accidents, particularly each Achillles’ tendons. It’s unattainable to know what to anticipate from Dike after he has been unable to play commonly for therefore lengthy, however returning residence ought to give him some consolation. The priority for Dike is that Orlando Metropolis now has Antoine Griezmann and U.S. U-20 star Justin Ellis because the staff’s forwards.
Ian Hoffmann to Mjallby: American fullback Ian Hoffmann will now play his commerce in Sweden’s prime tier with Mjallby, which he joined this summer time on mortgage from Lech Poznan.
Probably on the transfer
Yunus Musah: Musah’s mortgage to Atalanta in 2025/26 didn’t work out and he’s now again with AC Milan. Initially it appeared as if he was going to stay with AC Milan, and he nonetheless may, however there are rumors that Leeds United and Ipswich are each him in England. Now this week, it appears as if Lazio goes to come back in with a bid. Lazio’s new supervisor Gennaro Gattuso beforehand coached Musah at Valencia. It could assist Musha to play below a well-known supervisor, however Gattuso has been unsuccessful in his current gigs.
Sebastian Berhalter: The U.S. nationwide staff midfielder Sebastian Berhalter may have his present contract with Vancouver expire on the finish of the season. Given his World Cup resume, nationwide staff stature, and his nice 18 month run in Vancouver, Berhalter ought to have choices.
Max Arfsten: The Columbus Crew winger/wingback made the World Cup staff however curiosity in him might reheat after gives from Toulouse and Middlesbrough had been rejected final yr.
Matt Freese: A couple of experiences listed Celtic as keen on Freese following the World Cup, however nothing concrete.
A couple of different notes
In just a few different minor strikes.
Former U.S. worldwide John Brooks determined to not retire after a tricky season with Hertha BSC. As a substitute, he’ll play for VSG Altglienicke within the non-professional fourth-tier Regionalliga.
Speedy winger Jonathan Amon left Velje in Denmark following the membership’s relegation out of the Superliga. He’s now in Austria’s second tier with SKN St. Poelten.
