Our Boys Overseas: August 31st

With the summer transfer window coming to a close today, several U.S. Soccer players secured a move to a new club for the remainder of the season. Several of these Americans are set to make their debuts this weekend for their respected teams.

ENGLAND

Clint Dempsey’s time at Fulham has officially come to an end today after spending the last six years with the team after joining the Cottagers in 2006 from the New England Revolution. After speculations that the American would be transferring to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur snatched the Texan before the close of the summer transfer window. Dempsey will be joining fellow American Brad Friedel at Tottenham who is the current starting goalkeeper at the club. Dempsey completed his physical yesterday and has signed a three-year contract with the team. With the help of both Americans, the team hopes to get their first win of the season this weekend against Norwich City.

Maurice Edu will be joining fellow U.S. Soccer team member Geoff Cameron at Stoke City after signing with the team last weekend on a three-year contract. Cameron made his debut for Stoke last weekend against Arsenal in a match that ended in a scoreless draw. Edu makes the move as a free transfer after the demotion of Glasgow Rangers to the third division of Scotland and four seasons with the team. Edu could make his debut for the team as soon as tomorrow when the team faces Wigan Athletic.

After spending most his first season for Leeds United recovering from a concussion injury, Robbie Rogers is going on loan with Stevenage FC of League One for the remainder of the season. Rogers was recently put on Leed’s transfer list. Current Stevenage coach, Gary Smith, is the former coach of the Colorado Rapids in the MLS. Rogers could make his debut for the team this Saturday against Oldham Athletic.

SCOTLAND

Carlos Bocanegra is going on a loan for the season to Racing Santander of the Spanish second division following in the footsteps of fellow American teammates Alejandro Bedoya and Maurice Edu  who also made moves due to the team’s ongoing financial struggles and recent demotion to the fourth tier of Scottish football. The last American to play in Spain was Jozy Altidore who previously was a player for Villarreal. Santander host Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

GERMANY

Joe Gyau has made a loan move to St. Pauli of the Bundesliga 2 from 1899 Hoffenheim to gain more playing time and experience. The 19 year-old leaves behind fellow Americans Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams who are both starting players for Hoffenheim. Gyau’s first chance at getting minutes may come this weekend when the team takes on Sandhausen.

PORTUGAL

Oguchi Onyewu will be joining Carlos Bocanegra in Spain from Sporting CP when he moves to La Liga team Malaga for a season-long loan. This comes after CP left him of the team’s Europa League roster. Onyewu’s Belgian citizenship allows the player to bypass the Spanish-side’s non-allowance of players who are not European. Malaga travels to Zaragoza on Saturday.