United States fullback DeAndre Yedlin will leave MLS and join Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League.
DeAndre Yedlin joins Tottenham Hotspur from the Seattle Sounders
After a strong showing in the World Cup, the 21-year-old fullback is set to move to the Premier League.
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Under the terms of the deal, Yedlin will finish the 2014 season with the Sounders and may even start next season in Seattle. Right now, the plan is for the American to join Spurs next summer and it looks likely that he will stay with the Sounders until then.
Yedlin joined the Sounders out of college under MLS' homegrown player rule. The 21-year-old spent a year with the Sounders Academy before enrolling at Akron to play under now Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter. After a single season with the Zips, Yedlin turned pro and rejoined the Sounders.
He was handed his professional debut on March 2, 2013 and quickly became a regular starter for the Sounders. He was also a surprise addition to the 2014 US World Cup squad, and played in two group stage matches and in the USA’s loss against Belgium in the Round of 16.
His play at the World Cup wasn’t always brilliant -- defending can still be an issue for him and it showed -- but his potential was on full display. He is a tremendous athlete with incredible speed and was able to keep up with the best players in the world. That caught the attention of several clubs in Europe, especially in Serie A. He seemed destined for AS Roma, until Spurs swooped in last week and captured the young American.
