da leao： GOAL breaks down what was a pretty poor season for Americans in England as the contingent of national team stars hopefully look ahead to brighter days
da fezbet： Overall, it wasn't a very good seasons for Americans in the Premier League. In fact, you could probably call the 2022-23 campaign a bad one for U.S. men's national team stars in England's top-flight. The quantity was there, for sure, with several familiar faces plying their trade in the league, but the quality? Not so much.
Generally, it was a down year for Americans abroad everywhere, with many struggling with form and injuries at club level, but there was nowhere more impacted than the Premier League. Stars like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Tim Ream were all hit with long-term injuries, halting positive momentum for all three.
Meanwhile, an American contingent gathered at Leeds. It didn't take too long for it all to go south, though, leaving a trio of USMNT stars facing an uncertain future.
It wasn't all doom and gloom, though. Fulham overachieved, with their two Americans, Ream and Antonee Robinson, making massive contributions. So, while the season will be defined by struggles, there are some reasons for optimism heading towards the 2023-24 campaign.
For some, that optimism will be the opportunity to build on this season's successes. For others, it will be a chance to put this disastrous campaign behind them, perhaps outside of England altogether.
With that said, here's a look at how the USMNT stars in the Premier League fared this season:
Getty9Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea)
The former Chicago Fire goalkeeper will likely be higher on lists like these in future years. However, considering he hasn't yet been involved with Chelsea's senior team, he finds himself at the bottom for now.
Slonina made his big move to London after the 2022 MLS season and has been a regular for Chelsea's reserves. This season is very much a taste of life in England for a player that the Blues' reportedly see as their goalkeeper of the future.
It remains to be seen what's next for Slonina, who could spend another year developing at Chelsea or go out on loan in search of more playing time. Either way, the club seem to have high hopes for him, so that's good news for both the teenager and the USMNT.
AdvertisementGetty8Matt Turner (Arsenal)
Considering we're just going on Premier League performances here, Turner finds himself next on this list. Like Slonina, Turner has not made a Premier League appearance this season, although he has served as Aaron Ramsdale's primary back-up. The American goalkeeper has played in seven matches across domestic cups and the Europa League, but that Premier League debut still eludes him.
Turner's long-term future will be a subject of debate, as the USMNT would certainly prefer to have the No.1 get consistent minutes in goal. Turner, though, has certainly benefited from his time at Arsenal, even if the club fell just short of a title this season.
Getty7Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
The center-back's first season in the Premier League didn't go as well as many would have hoped. Injuries limited Richards for the first half of Crystal Palace's campaign after some brief appearances in August, ultimately keeping him off the USMNT squad for the World Cup.
He didn't make his first Premier League start until January, earning praise from Patrick Vieira for that performance against Manchester United. He'd go on to play 90 minutes only three more times after that initial start, though, with just one start on his resume since early February.
Richards has certainly shown flashes of being a top-tier center-back, but they have been few and far between due to a lack of opportunities. Minutes will need to pick up next season as the 23-year-old defender looks to start his push towards the 2026 World Cup.
Getty Images6Brenden Aaronson (Leeds)
There were some positive moments early on, but it quickly became clear that Aaronson wasn't quite ready for the physicality of the Premier League. A regular under Jesse Marsch for the first half of the campaign, Aaronson's form cratered after the World Cup.
Some have attributed it to a lack of strength, while others say its a lack of confidence due to Leeds' relegation fight. Whatever the reason, Aaronson could do little in that fight as he struggled to do much of anything in Premier League play during the season's final months.
He's featured in 35 games, provided three assists and scored one goal, which came when he notably robbed Edouard Mendy in an early-season highlight against Chelsea. However, his energy and effort counted little once Marsch left as he fell out of favor under Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce.
It appears he'll remain at Leeds regardless of which league they play in next season and, should they go down, a season in the Championship could work wonders for a player that still needs a little seasoning.