Tim Ream looks set to return to the Premier League next season, after he helped Fulham win the English Championship playoff on Saturday via a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the final.
The 30-year-old, who first played in the Premier League in 2012 after being transferred to Bolton Wanderers from the New York Red Bulls, played the full 90 in the center of defense for Fulham at Wembley in the playoff final. The Cottagers finished in third place in England's second division, then edged Derby County in the playoff semifinals to book their spot in Saturday's match.
Tom Cairney's 23rd-minute goal was enough to seal the win, but Fulham were put under pressure late as Denis Odoi earned a second yellow card in the 70th minute, reducing the London club to 10 men.
Ream played 47 games across all competitions this season for Fulham, his third after moving from Bolton in the summer of 2015. The versatile, ball-playing defender made 58 MLS regular-season appearances for the Red Bulls in 2010-11, and an additional five MLS Cup Playoffs appearances. The St. Louis native also has 26 US national team caps to date.
