Morning everyone,

Hope you’re week is going well. Max and Mason here ✋ — two brothers who love American soccer and write this weekly newsletter to keep you updated on everything happening with the beautiful game in our country. Enjoy!

• 🤔 MLS Musings

• 🇺🇸 Yanks in Italy

• 🏔️ NWSL to Denver

• 🇺🇸 USMNT January Camp

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Meme of the Week

MLS Musings

Another active week in the offseason. Tons of moves to cover…

It’s going to be a totally new Austin FC team. For the second time in just a few months, they’ve broken their club-record transfer fee, this time a $10M price tag for Brandon Vazquez. I’m not the only one who feels like they overpaid. He was purchased by CF Monterrey less than a year ago for $7.5M, mostly underperformed while in Mexico, and now he goes for more. I don’t really understand it but at least Austin knows they’re getting a proven MLS goal scorer.

Austin are reportedly close to selling DP Sebastian Driussi to River Plate for $9M and will likely sign another DP this winter to replace him. Austin will be a fun watch in 2025.

CF Montreal have acquired Jalen Neal from the LA Galaxy for $650k GAM and an international roster spot. Montreal will try to replicate the success they’ve had in the past developing young players with the 21-year-old center back.

Montreal have also traded for Giacomo Vrioni from the New England Revolution for $50k GAM. The move frees up a DP spot for the Revs and gives Vrioni a much needed fresh start.

The LA Galaxy are replacing him by signing Danish center-back Mathias Zanka Jorgensen from Anderlecht.

LAFC sell left-back Omar Campos to Cruz Azul for $4M. Campos arrived for a reported fee of $5M a year ago and now departs for slightly less. The move opens up a U-22 Initiative spot for the Black and Gold.

American’s Abroad

Antonee Robinson was awarded US Male Soccer Player of the Year. He’s been the best left-back in the English Premier League this season leading all defenders with 7 assists while leading the entire league in interceptions with 37. Very well deserved for Jedi 👏 

Richy Ledezma is another American wanted in the transfer window. Club America made a bid for the right-back but PSV rejected it and plan to extend the American’s contract.

This year’s Italian Super Cup semifinal featured all four Americans on AC Milan and Juventus. AC Milan won and Pulisic scored another PK, bringing his perfect PK record for club and country to 11 out of 11. Musah’s deflected cross gave Milan the winning goal, making it 2 for 2 on American goal contributions. Milan got the best of Juve but not without McKennie pulling this move on Pulisic. It’s Ronaldinho esque.

In the Super Cup final against rival Inter Milan, Pulisic scored again (scroll down) to tie the game at 2-2. Then Pulisic played a beautiful through ball to Rafael Leao who assisted the game winner. It’s his first trophy with Milan. He’s found the perfect home for him and there’s no reason his form will stop anytime soon.

NWSL Coming to Denver

Denver has secured the 16th franchise in the NWSL for a record $110M expansion fee, the largest expansion fee in US women’s sports history. The purchasing group is led by Robert Cohen of IMA Financial Group. Denver was one of three finalists for this expansion club along with Cincinnati and Cleveland.

The fee more than doubles the previous expansion fee record set by Bay FC and Boston in 2023. And more than 50x bigger than Angel City FC’s fee in 2020, a team which is now worth over $250M. The average NWSL club is now worth $104M, up 57% since 2023.

Denver has a history of producing USWNT stars as Sophia Smith, Lindsay Horan, and Mallory Swanson are all from the area.

After several failed women’s leagues, an investment like this proves that the NWSL isn’t going anywhere.

USMNT January Camp

Mauricio Pochettino’s first January camp with the team is, as usual, an MLS-heavy one. 23 out of 24 players hail from 15 different MLS teams. Cade Cowell, the Chivas USA forward is the only non-MLS player. Seven players are making their first USMNT camp and another three are uncapped with previous call-ups.

In reality, it’s likely only a few of these players will be a part of the World Cup squad in 2026. But nonetheless this is a good opportunity for younger players to get their first face time with Pochettino and for veterans to prove they deserve the future call-ups that matter the most.

The goalkeeper battle is what I’m watching in this camp. It’s about time Matt Freese gets called up after being one of if not the best keepers in MLS over the last couple years. Hopefully we’ll see him start one of these games.

The US will play two friendlies in the coming weeks.

• January 18th vs Venezuela at Chase Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale

• January 22nd vs Costa Rica in Orlando

Goal of the Week

He’s back and immediately scoring 😍 

Meme of the Week

Messi was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom this week and nobody can figure out why. Due to “scheduling conflicts” he wasn’t able to be in attendance to receive the award.

Quick Hits

• Boca Juniors have made a bid to sign Alan Velasco from FC Dallas (Link)

• San Diego FC are still in discussions with Kevin de Bruyne (Link)

• Neymar hints are reunion with Messi and Suarez (Link)

• Johnny Cardoso could be on the move this winter (Link)

• Toronto FC are working towards a departure for Lorenzo Insigne this winter (Link)

This edition took 6 hours to make. Hope you enjoyed it! Let us know if you have any constructive feedback for us below :)

Max & Mason