If all goes to plan, US men’s national team outside back DeAndre Yedlin would wrap up his playing career where it all began.
Yedlin, the Seattle Sounders’ first Homegrown Player, said as much earlier this week when speaking with club legend Steve Zakuani.
“One-hundred percent,” Yedlin said of a possible return. “That’s been my plan all along, to hopefully finish where I started. I think that would make for a pretty good career. I remember when I left, [head coach Brian Schmetzer] told me, ‘You’re welcome back at any time.’ So, I’m [going to] hold him to that."
Yedlin, 26, has played in England since 2015 with stops at Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Newcastle. He’s been with the latter since 2016, and is on the cusp of 100 Premier League appearances.
Yedlin originally signed with Seattle in 2013 after two seasons at Akron, an NCAA Division I program where he played under now-Columbus Crew SC head coach Caleb Porter. The pacy defender then appeared in 56 matches across two seasons with one goal and six assists, prompting overseas interest. As for his USMNT career, it's included 62 caps and three appearances at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
While no return for Yedlin seems imminent, the Seattle native is definitely interested when the time is right.
