Beginnings and endings.
The beginning of the January transfer window in Europe was busy when it came to MLSers and Americans. Brenden Aaronson officially moved from the Philadelphia Union to RB Salzburg and Joe Scally from NYCFC to Borussia Monchengladbach on January 1. Mark McKenzie's move from Philly to KRC Genk was sorted a week later.
Then, it was quiet. There were plenty of reports, but nothing close or official for a while. But it started to heat up in the last week.
Jordan Morris joined Swansea City from the Seattle Sounders, and then came a hectic deadline day. Here's how it played out.
Bryan Reynolds
At long last: It's finally official!
The months-long saga linking Reynolds with a move to Europe has come to an end on deadline day, with the rising fullback joining AS Roma from FC Dallas for a club-record fee.
The 19-year-old made his MLS debut in 2019 but he broke out in 2020, starting 14 regular-season games after Dallas transferred Reggie Cannon to Boavista. He earned a call-up to the US U-23 national team camp this month as well and will become the second-ever American to play at Roma when he debuts.
Reynolds was linked heavily with Juventus, Club Brugge, AC Milan and many others over the last two months before Roma won out in the end.
Daryl Dike
As if there weren't enough players to track and news to consume, Orlando City dropped a bomb from the clouds that forward Daryl Dike would be joining Championship club Barnsley on a short-term loan.
The Orlando Sentinel's Julia Poe reports that the deal includes a purchase option of $20 million for 80% of Dike's rights. Barnsley haven't paid more than $2.5 million for a player in their club's history, per Transfermarkt. MLSsoccer.com can confirm that there is a purchase option in the agreement.
Dike, 20, was among the league's brightest breakout stars in 2020. After being selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the SuperDraft, Dike broke into Orlando's first team and had eight goals and four assists in 17 appearances. He also earned numerous call-ups to the US national team,
Diego Rossi
Often assumed a move would happen but seldom reported where, Rossi was linked to Championship club Reading, according to Gianluca DiMarzio.
However, as reported by MLSsoccer.com, a move for Rossi today was unlikely and never happened. A number of teams kicked the tires on a potential short-term loan, though nothing came close.
Rossi, 22, has been a star in MLS since the day he debuted for LAFC and won the 2020 Golden Boot while being named to MLS Best XI. He has 42 goals and 20 assists in 85 MLS appearances.
Aaron Long
Over the last few days reports surrounding Aaron Long's future intensified as a number of European clubs were interested in acquiring the USMNT center back on loan from the New York Red Bulls. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle reported Reading were among the clubs interested, as well as Liverpool weighing up an emergency loan move.
Sources told MLSsoccer.com that, despite the interest, just one official offer came in for Long, which was rejected by RBNY.
Long, 28, was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2018, anchoring RBNY's backline en route to a Supporters' Shield title. He has 19 caps with the USMNT and has been a regular starter under Gregg Berhalter, his latest coming against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.
Paul Arriola
Another MLSer in his prime with European suitors, Arriola was a target of Swansea City to join Morris and right before the window closed, the clubs got a deal over the line.
The deal doesn't include a purchase option, though a source adds the clubs will discuss the possibility of a permanent deal during the loan.
D.C. United's co-owner Jason Levien is also a co-owner of Swansea, that familiarity is helping facilitate a deal so late in the window.
Arriola starred with the USMNT in their rout of T&T on Sunday night, scoring twice. He turns 26 next week and has 10 goals and 14 assists in 69 MLS appearances.
Brian Rodriguez
Seemingly of nowhere like Dike, Rodriguez got his move to Europe.
Rodriguez joins Spanish second division club UD Almeria on loan, though the deal may become permanent should certain incentives be hit.
Almeria currently sit tied for second in the Spanish second tier, making them a favorite to achieve promotion to La Liga. Rodriguez joins to help that push.
Rodriguez, 20, already has nine caps with the Uruguayan national team. He had two goals and seven assists with LAFC in 2020.
DeAndre Yedlin
The Sounders product has officially completed a move from Newcastle to Galatasaray on deadline day, after some last-minute hurdles to clear surrounding contract language re: taxes (per Newcastle Chronicle).
Yedlin had been with Newcastle since 2016, joining from Tottenham. He had been a regular with the team though fell out of favor this year, which happens to be the last year of his contract. It was set to expire in the summer, meaning a move away was expected.
The 27-year-old has made 62 appearances with the USMNT. Galatasaray sit third in the Turkish league, three points behind leaders Fenerbache.
Chris Richards
After moving from FC Dallas to Bayern Munich before even making his MLS debut, Richards had broken into the fringes of the first team though wasn't receiving regular playing time for the superclub.
On deadline day, Richards sealed a loan move to fellow Bundesliga side TSG Hoffenheim through the end of the season. Richards will again work under Sebastian Hoeness, who took charge at Hoffenheim last summer after coaching at Bayern Munich II, where Richards made 38 appearances. They played in the German third tier.
Richards made his debut for the senior US national team in November after starring at various youth national team levels.
