Updated List Featuring Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams

To say that the United States remains a minor player in world soccer would in no way reflect the reality of the situation. Nor would elevating them to the status of a major influential nation. But in-between does exist.

The enjoyment of a status as a rising footballing nation that the performances — both collective and individual — of US players and teams have, in recent years, strengthened and legitimized America as a soccer nation. And if you had to pick one of the most tangible markers of this development, the ever-increasing number of American soccer stars based abroad would do the trick.

At least, that’s what the ranking of the 10 most expensive transfers of US talent of all time tends to show.

10

John Brooks — $19.3 million

Hertha Berlin to VfL Wolfsburg (2017)

If you have any doubts about the fact that the value of Americans has not always been as high as it could be today, the example of John Brooks should make you reconsider. Back in 2017, when he left his hometown club Hertha Berlin for Wolfsburg, ‘only’ $19.3m was enough for the Old Lady’s management to agree to part company with the 24-year-old centre-back.

Quite simply, it was an historic deal, both for the player, who became the most expensive American of all time, and for the Berliners, who made the biggest sale in their history. A win-win situation.

9

Tyler Adams — $19.3 million

RB Leipzig to Leeds United (2022)

A product of the Red Bull group, Tyler Adams began his professional adventure with his New York annex before making the long journey to Europe, where he joined Leipzig and reunited with his former coach Jesse Marsch.

The natural continuation of a promising start to his career, marked in particular by his first caps for the USMNT, which would then lead the American midfielder to join Leeds United — in 2022 — and discover the prestigious Premier League

. All this in a deal estimated at around $19.3m and with the onerous responsibility of taking over from local icon Kalvin Phillips, who has recently left for Manchester City.

8

Christian Pulisic — $23.6 million

Chelsea to AC Milan (2023)

Every footballer — no matter how talented he may be — has to make choices during the course of his career. A decision-making process that, whether good or bad, will have an irremediable impact. Christian Pulisic, one of USMNT’s top goalscorers in history, who decided to leave Chelsea

for AC Milan

in the summer of 2023, will certainly not regret his.

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In Italy, the American forward has rediscovered his quintessential qualities — along with a substantial amount of playing time. Having become a regular fixture in the Rossoneri line-up, the USMNT captain has also established himself as one of the team’s statistical leaders. So much so, in fact, that he was considered one of Serie A’s top recruits at the end of the 2023/24 season.

7

Sergino Dest — $23.8 million

Ajax to Barcelona (2020)

When Sergino Dest finally joined Ajax’s professional squad, he may not have expected to stay for such a short time. But the $23.8 million offered by FC Barcelona

to the Amsterdam club after the young full-back had only played around 40 games for the club certainly changed the destiny he had imagined for himself. For better… and for worse.

While he has enjoyed some notable moments and written a few lines in the history of American soccer in the Catalan capital, the native of Almere, in the Netherlands, has nevertheless struggled to establish himself as an indisputable first-choice player. To the point of ending up on loan to AC Milan and then PSV.

6

Yunus Musah — $24.1 million

Valencia to AC Milan (2023)

Young as he may be, Yunus Musah is nonetheless a player with a wealth of experience. Born in the United States while his parents of Ghanaian origin were there on holiday, the midfielder subsequently traveled to the four corners of Europe, from Italy to Spain and through England.

A graduate of Arsenal’s academy, it was nevertheless at Iberian club Valencia that he made his professional debut. During his three years there, Musah grew in stature and made a name for himself in the eyes of the big clubs, including AC Milan, who were looking for reinforcements for their midfield and did not hesitate to invest over $24.1m to lure him to Lombardy.

5

Weston McKennie — $24.9 million

Schalke 04 to Juventus (2021)

When we spoke earlier about choices, Weston McKennie’s decision not to follow in the footsteps of Kellyn Acosta or Victor Ulloa was a strong one. In 2016, when the midfielder refused to sign his first professional contract with his parent club FC Dallas

and join its German counterpart Schalke 04, he was embarking on a path into the unknown. But to think that he would never see the end of it was to misunderstand him.

His impact and his regular presence in the Miners squad are only the most tangible evidence of this. A breakthrough in European football that has not gone unnoticed by Juventus

, who have done everything in their power to bring him to Turin and allow him to become the first American in the club’s history.

4

Tyler Adams — $30.6 million

From Leeds United to Bournemouth (2023)

Adams has the distinction of being one of only two American players to feature in this ranking. Indeed, while his transfer from Leipzig to Leeds United

opened its doors to him, the one he was the subject of when he joined Bournemouth enabled him to appear in it for the second time.

An operation estimated to cost close to $30.6 million, which was undoubtedly precipitated by the Peacocks’ relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2022-23 season. A blessing in disguise for the midfielder who, after a first campaign marked by major injuries, took advantage of the 2024-25 exercise to finally find some playing time and regularity.

3

Folarin Balogun — $34.1 million

Arsenal to AS Monaco (2023)

You sometimes have to leave the nest to finally take flight. Consider the case of Folarin Balogun. Trained and thrown into the deep end of the professional game at Arsenal

, the striker never really managed to make his mark. Or even to impose himself at all. And although his playing time increased following his loan move to Middlesbrough, none of his experiences were more conclusive than his adventure with Reims.

In fact, it was in Ligue 1, where he also spent a season on loan, that Balogun finally exploded onto the scene. So much so that he convinced AS Monaco to offer $34.1 million to the Gunners at the end of the 2022-23 season, which ended with him scoring 21 league goals.

2

Brenden Aaronson — $37.3 million

Red Bull Salzburg to Leeds United (2022)

From the USA to the Champions League, Brenden Aaronson’s career has got off to a flying start. It has to be said that the forward is a talented player. Everyone can attest to that. In particular Marsch, whom he briefly rubbed shoulders with at Red Bull Salzburg and who convinced him to join him at Leeds United when the American coach was appointed manager in 2022.

Not even the $37.3 million demanded by the Austrian club to part with its golden boy could stand up to the challenge. All of which brings to mind the aforementioned story of Adams, whose fate was also linked to that of the American coach.

1

Christian Pulisic — $72.8 million

Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea (2019)

Pulisic was still only a young player when Chelsea decided they would make him the most expensive American of all time. A mark set in 2019, when the twirling forward was then shining for German side Borussia Dortmund

.

And while some may argue — and rightly so — that the return on investment was not what the Blues’ directors had every right to expect, the more positive ones will point to the achievements of the man who is still considered one of the greatest American players in Premier League history. After all, we are talking about a Champions League winner here.

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