The summer of 2023 will go down as a defining one for the United States men's national team. Not neccesarily because of anything that happened on the field, although the U.S. did win one trophy while squandering another. No, this summer was all about transfers, with most of the team's starting XI making club decisions that could define the 2026 World Cup cycle.
By the time that World Cup on home soil does roll around three years from now, the USMNT will no doubt be looking at this summer as the one where players either made their claim or fell by the wayside. Three years goes by quickly, and, as the USMNT's golden generation continues to develop, players can't afford to waste a single second of development in the coming years.
From superstars like Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Tyler Adams to rising stars like Gabriel Slonina and Malik Tillman, there were plenty of Americans on the move. Some, like Pulisic, were escaping difficult situations at their old clubs. Others, like Balogun, were taking a well-earned step up the ladder as they look to further their careers.
So with the transfer window now shut, GOAL is here to grade and rank the USMNT's big moves of the summer: