Deal imminent
Leeds United are soon going to have an all-American midfield under US boss Jesse Marsch. Transfermarkt understands that Weston McKennie is now set for a transfer to Leeds United. The 24-year-old bid goodbye to his Juventus teammates on Thursday while the two clubs were still negotiating. According to Fabrizio Romano, the two sides have now achieved a breakthrough, and McKennie is set to original join on a €1.2m loan move with a €33 million option to buy.
Should Leeds trigger the option to buy, McKennie would become the most expensive signing in club history ahead of compatriot Brenden Aaronson—at least until Georginio Rutter starts triggering his add-ons in his initial deal from Hoffenheim, which can grow to €37m. McKennie would also become the second most expensive US American behind Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic (signed in 2018/19 for €64m from Dortmund).
Once the deal is completed, McKennie would become the tenth US American at the Elland Road. Together with Aaronson and Tyler Adams, McKennie will form an all-American midfield in the club’s battle against relegation from the Premier League. Leeds, who have already had the fourth-highest transfer expenditures in the world this season, have collected just 18 points from 19 games and are just one point above the relegation line.
Fowler, Aaronson & Co. – Leeds United’s record signings
13 Robbie Fowler | Signed from Liverpool in 2001/02 | Fee: €16.8m
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Last updated: January 28, 2023
12 Tyler Adams | Signed from RB Leipzig 2022/23 | Fee: €17m
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11 Hélder Costa | Signed from Wolves in 2020/21 | Fee: €17.7m
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10 Robbie Keane | Signed from Inter Milan in 2001/02 | Fee: €18m
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9 Raphinha | Signed from Stade Rennais in 2020/21 | Fee: €18.6m
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8 Diego Llorente | Signed from Real Sociedad in 2020/21 | Fee: €20m
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7 Jean-Kévin Augustin | Signed from RB Leipzig in 2020/21 | Fee: €21m
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6 Luis Sinisterra | Signed from Feyenoord in 2022/23 | Fee: €26m
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5 Rio Ferdinand | Signed from West Ham in 2000/01 | Fee: €26m
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4 Georginio Rutter | Signed from Hoffenheim in 2022/23 | Fee: €28m
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Deal can grow to €37m
3 Daniel James | Signed from Man United in 2021/22 | Fee: €29.1m
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2 Rodrigo | Signed from Valencia in 2020/21 | Fee: €30m
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1 Brenden Aaronson | Signed from RB Salzburg in 2022/23 | Fee: €32.84m
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McKennie to Leeds United – USMNT with mixed success in the Premier League
With three Americans on the field and Marsch on the bench, Leeds United will see the highest concentration of USMNT players since the 2007/08 edition of Fulham and the 2010/11 edition of Aston Villa. Fulham, with Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, and Eddie Johnson, were relegated. Villa, however, managed to finish ninth with Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Michael Bradley in the squad.
Mudryk ahead of Gakpo – The most expensive January transfers in 2022/23
Yann Sommer | Gladbach to Bayern Munich | Fee: €8m
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Last updated: January 27, 2022
César Montes | Monterrey to RCD Espanyol | Fee: €8m
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Ismaël Koné | Montreal Impact to Watford | Fee: €8m
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Gerónimo Rulli | Villarreal to Ajax | Fee: €8m
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Julien Duranville | RSC Anderlecht to Borussia Dortmund | Fee: €8.5m
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Josip Juranovic | Celtic to Union Berlin | Fee: €8.6m
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Jonas Omlin | Montpellier to Gladbach | Fee: €9m
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Evander | Midtjylland to Portland Timbers | Fee: €9.5m
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Nicolás Ibáñez | CF Pachuca to Tigres | Fee: €10.1m
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Lyle Foster | Westerlo to Burnley | Fee: €11m
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Máximo Perrone | Vélez Sarsfield to Manchester City | Fee: €11m
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Mario Lemina | OGC Nice to Wolverhampton | Fee: €11m
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João Félix | Atlético to Chelsea | Loan fee: €11m
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Youssouf Ndayishimiye | Basaksehir to OGC Nice | Fee: €11.5m
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Danny Ings | Aston Villa to West Ham | Fee: €12m
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Maximilian Wöber | Salzburg to Leeds | Fee: €12m
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David Datro Fofana | Molde to Chelsea | Fee: €12m
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Fernando Gorriarán | Santos Laguna to Tigres | Fee: €12.2m
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Andrey Santos | Vasco da Gama to Chelsea | Fee: €12.5m
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Álex Moreno | Betis to Aston Villa | Fee: €13.5m
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Carlos Alcaraz | Racing Club to Southampton | Fee: €13.7m
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Victor Kristiansen | FC Copenhagen to Leicester | Fee: €14m
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Andreas Schjelderup | Nordsjaelland to Benfica | Fee: €14m
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Gerson | Olympique Marseille to Flamengo | Fee: €15m
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Jhon Durán | Chicago to Aston Villa | Fee: €16.6m
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Danilo | Palmeiras to Nottingham Forest | Fee: €20m
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Dango Ouattara | Lorient to Bournemouth | Fee: €22.5m
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Leandro Trossard | Brighton to Arsenal | Fee: €24m
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Jakub Kiwior | Spezia to Arsenal | Fee: €25m
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Georginio Rutter | Hoffenheim to Leeds | Fee: €28m
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Noni Madueke | PSV Eindhoven to Chelsea | Fee: €35m
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Benoît Badiashile | Monaco to Chelsea | Fee: €38m
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Cody Gakpo | PSV Eindhoven to Liverpool | Fee: €42m
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Mykhaylo Mudryk | Shakhtar to Chelsea | Fee: €70m
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For McKennie, in the meantime, the transfer is a bit of an escape. Juventus have been deducted 15 points this season by FIGC after being involved in various scandals in Italy’s Serie A. The future of the Italian giants, in fact, is very much in doubt as court cases are still ongoing. Amidst all those scandals, McKennie has always played well for Juve, scoring three goals and two assists in 21 games across all competitions.
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