As the European transfer window comes down to the last couple weeks, the fates of two key American youths remain in limbo, while another sealed his move to the US’ favorite English club. Alongside their similarity in donning the Stars and Stripes, all three share another commonality: Fulham.
The West London club that plays their home matches at Craven Cottage on the River Thames has been host to plenty of Americans throughout the last couple decades, but it is staring a resurgence of “Fulhamerica” directly in the face.
While all three players face very different decisions regarding their soccer careers, it is not absurd to share the possibility that Fulham may be home to four Americans by the end of August. The likelihood may be faint, but there is a glimmer of hope that Gedion Zelalem could join Emerson Hyndman, Luca de la Torre and now Tim Ream as Cottagers.
Ream, 27, has enjoyed a career rejuvenation since moving to England that was capped off by earning a spot on the US Gold Cup roster this summer. He moved to Bolton at the end of the January transfer window in 2012 and started in 13 Premier League matches the rest of the season before the club was relegated to the Championship, where they have been ever since. Over the last two years, Ream has played 8,201 minutes in 94 total matches and he has started in all but two of those contests. Bolton fans named him their Player of the Year each of the past two seasons.
Now, three matches into the 2015/16 season, Ream has not been in the lineup yet. Originally booked as an injury picked up during his duties with the US national team, it quickly fueled the transfer rumors that had popped up in the days leading up to the opening weekend. Then, it was reported that Queens Park Rangers were rounding up their fourth bid for the defender after having the first three rejected. Then he was in London to have a physical with the promotion-seeking Rangers. Then Fulham entered the mix to swoop the versatile Ream and reportedly match QPR’s offer. Then, English media said Ream was set to make the roughly $3 million move to Craven Cottage after agreeing to personal terms. That was three days ago.
Today, the clubs finally announced the transfer. Fulham welcomed the St. Louis native to their cozy home on the banks of the River Thames, while Bolton said goodbye to their beloved Yank. Bolton fans are expectedly upset about the sale of the fan favorite, but the Wanderers are cash-strapped financially and Fulham just put a hefty check into their back pocket. As Bolton’s manager said last week, they weren’t keen on selling Ream, “but every player has their price.”
Zelalem has a very different story, but one that also links him with a possible temporary move across London from Arsenal. The 18-year-old is a hot young target for clubs throughout the United Kingdom. Shortly after Zelalem buried an 85th minute winner for Arsenal’s U-21 squad to defeat the Fulham U-21s, talk of a loan for the midfielder heated up. By Tuesday, reports surfaced that he could be headed to storied club Rangers in Scotland, another hotbed for American talent in the past.
Zelalem and his father travelled to Glasgow on Wednesday to visit with Rangers and tour the facilities, but he now faces a decision on where to play his soccer this season. While Glasgow has its advantages, there is also interest from England’s second-division where Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City join Fulham as potential suitors for the Berlin-born playmaker.
While playing in the intensified atmosphere of Glasgow has its advantages, Rangers play in the second-division in Scotland as they try to make their way back up the pyramid of Scottish soccer. The league talent is nowhere near the competition he could see in England’s Championship, but it would be valuable experience to play in front of 50,000 fans at Ibrox Stadium and face the media scrutiny of a passionate soccer culture like Rangers.
Hyndman has the biggest question mark surrounding him of the three. The 19-year-old captained the US U-20 squad at the World Cup this summer and is coming off his first season with Fulham’s first team where he started 11 matches across all competitions. However, in three league matches and one Capital One Cup game so far this season, Hyndman has yet to make it off the bench. In the most recent development, he featured in Monday’s 1-0 loss to Zelalem’s Arsenal side in a U-21 Premier League matchup.
Shortly after the start of the season, it came to light that Hyndman had apparently refused multiple contract extension offers from Fulham. Then the transfer rumors started to swirl, but they never gained much ground. There was interest from all over Europe, including the Netherlands, Germany and Spain as well as options elsewhere in England. However, nothing seemed firm and there was no solid report of bids being submitted for his services. That being said, his lack of involvement in the first team points towards a move away from Craven Cottage.
While a move away from West London would be disappointing, especially with the arrival of Ream and possibility of Zelalem coming later this month, it is probably in the young midfielder’s best interests for his career. His contract is up at season’s end and Fulham will likely want to get some money for him before he becomes a free transfer option. In addition, Fulham is in turmoil and are desperately trying to quell the storm. The Cottagers are now on their fourth head coach in the last three seasons and suffered relegation out of the Premier League after a dreadful 2013/14 campaign. Last season started off worse and manager Felix Magath didn’t make it past September. After finishing 17th in the table last season, Fulham is hoping to regain their stance in English soccer.
They were hoping Hyndman would be a key part of that resurgence, but it appears the Dallas native is looking for other employers. He has less than two weeks to sort that out before he is stuck at Fulham until at least January. Fulham could be the worst option for him at this point as they could keep him with the U-21 squad, bitter that he did not decide to sign an extension.
Meanwhile, key US U-17 midfielder Luca de la Torre signed his first professional contract with Fulham just before the season got underway and he has been a regular for the U-21 squad so far. He picked up the assist on the lone goal in their 1-0 opening win over Brighton & Hove Albion before playing the last half hour of the loss to Arsenal U-21s earlier this week. He is highly rated by Fulham and his playmaking abilities will make him the focus of the American U-17 squad as they prepare for the World Cup later this fall.
The coming weeks will hold a lot of answers for Americans abroad, but perhaps none bigger and more looming than what will happen with these three Yanks. Ream, Zelalem and Hyndman could all be featuring for Fulham at Craven Cottage later this fall or Zelalem and Hyndman could find their ways to different clubs across Europe. Classic transfer season.
The Yanks Watch 