Five USMNT Players to Follow in Europe in 2026–27
The U.S. men’s national team player pool is brimming with talent in a way like never before, with more than 50 U.S. players on rosters across the UEFA confederation for the 2026–27 season.
In the wake of a relatively successful World Cup, several USMNT players earned moves to Europe this summer, whereas others who made promising senior debuts for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s team this fall are in for much more playing time at the club level as a result.
Here, Sports Illustrated highlights five USMNT players to follow in Europe this season.
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Sebastian Berhalter and the Middlesbrough Trio
Outside of Lionel Messi in 2025 and 2026, there was a case that Sebastian Berhalter was the best player in Major League Soccer with the Vancouver Whitecaps. With unrelenting defensive prowess, the ability to spark quick transitions and the ability to fire accurate long passes and shots from distance, the 25-year-old midfielder became a vital player on the league’s best team over the last year and a half.
After impressing at the 2026 World Cup and better establishing himself within the USMNT, Berhalter secured a transfer to EFL Championship side Middlesbrough in August and has immediately become a starter for the English side. The club is searching for Premier League promotion after falling in the EFL Championship promotion play-off final to Hull City last season, and it has already found lots of success, losing just once in league play thus far, way back on Matchday 2.
The savvy midfielder is only anticipated to get better in the coming months, especially after his two-goal, two-assist performance in the four-game fall international window. Berhalter partners fellow American and USMNT player Aidan Morris to form Middlesbrough’s double pivot, a player eager to get back into Pochettino’s good graces. USMNT World Cup star Max Arfsten is also on the roster.
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Alex Freeman
One of the breakout stars of this summer’s World Cup for the USMNT, Freeman is experiencing his first full European campaign after joining La Liga’s Villarreal midway through the 2025–26 season. At the World Cup, he scored a vital goal in the USMNT’s win against Australia and played 90 minutes in four of the team’s five games.
The 22-year-old fullback is slowly beginning to earn more minutes in La Liga play and appears destined for a breakout this season under new manager Iñigo Pérez.
Off the back of a dominant two weeks for the USMNT this fall—which included an assist on the game-winner against Canada, Freeman outshined Los Galácticos of Real Madrid, displaying his elite athleticism and tactical astuteness in the match against the Spanish giants. He executed a perfect slide tackle on record-signing Yan Diomande, preventing the Real Madrid star from finding the back of the net and utterly stunning the Bernabéu.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun has faced no shortage of hurdles over the past few months, and how he responds will be critically important for his future in the game. Following an unwilling scandal this summer at the 2026 World Cup, the Monaco striker’s deal to transfer back to the Premier League collapsed sheer minutes before the deadline window closed.
Despite the red card saga that hung over Balogun’s head, the USMNT star still stunned on home soil this summer and earned the attentions of several top European clubs, including Everton. He ultimately agreed to terms with the Toffees and was set to join them, until he was told he failed his medical evaluation. This sent the deal into a spiral, and although Monaco was able to get it back on the table, Balogun had ultimately become dissuaded by Everton’s lack of confidence.
Now, he’s back with Monaco, a club that was perhaps not too happy with him for causing a substantial loss of transfer money. Balogun has slowly worked his back into some playing time, though, and will look to improve on the 13 goals he scored in Ligue 1 last season. There’s a chance he could even push for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot after finishing fourth last year.
Whether or not 25-year-old Balogun can mentally recover and return to form will be at the center of discussions following the months of chaos that he is certainly eager to forget.
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Christian Pulisic
AC Milan is still one of the premier clubs in the world, even with their struggles to win championships in recent seasons. The Italian club with fight for relevance this season, as will its forward Christian Pulisic, who has been overlooked by the USMNT this fall and likely for the foreseeable future.
It will be must-watch TV as the U.S. Soccer talisman scrambles to restore his reputation and stature, all while guiding Milan back to the upper echelon of Serie A. They finished fifth last season and eighth the season prior. The 27-year-old winger is slowly working his way back into the starting lineup and has already begun to erase his lengthy goal drought that defined last season.
With New York City FC publicly stating their efforts to bring Pulisic to MLS, any continued poor play could see the American end up back in the States. In many ways, the 2026–27 season seems like it could be make-or-break for Pulisic.
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Zavier Gozo
Zavier Gozo signed a five-year deal with Crystal Palace worth $15 million back in August, leaping the pond from MLS’s Real Salt Lake, where he had an emphatic start to the 2026 year.
Although he has struggled for Premier League minutes with the Eagles this season, he could be in for more opportunities after earning his first call up to the USMNT this fall and making his senior debut.
Although he did not receive a ton of minutes under Pochettino, Gozo was also included in Lionel Messi’s highly selective list of the top-10 future stars of the game, which may serve as an important confidence boost for the 19-year-old winger.
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