This sport loves a good transfer story, and there’s an entire business within soccer dedicated to that fact. Insiders rack up millions of social media followers discussing the latest news and rumors as fans wait for any sign of what’s coming next with even more passion than they wait for the next big result on the field.
In American soccer, transfer stories are looked at on an even deeper level. That’s because every big move involving an American isn’t just viewed as a singular event. Every move is macro, not micro; it’s a whole new referendum on the American game itself. When a big American player makes a move, the sport is healthy. When the opposite happens, the sky is falling.
To start 2024, U.S. men’s national team transfers have prompted more of the latter. A Europe-obsessed fanbase has seen several players opt for transfers within North America, prompting criticism and, in some cases, outrage.
But those moves aren’t for those outside of the player’s circle to decide, and every transfer doesn’t need to be dictated solely by national team hopes and dreams. There’s time for criticism and time for outrage, but when it comes to deeply personal choices like these, those outside need to settle down.