Its official: the DeAndre Yedlin transfer is officially complete and he will join Tottenham Hotspur. After over a month of speculation and rumors, the Spurs have won the race to sign the 21 year old right back. Yedlin will remain with the Sounders for at least the next six months, and will move on to London in time for the 2015-2016 English Premier League season. But what does this move mean for US Soccer, the Sounders, and most importantly the youngster who put pen to paper?
Credit to the Sounders Academy, Caleb Porter at the University of Akron, countless youth coaches, Sigi Schmid and Jurgen Klinsmann. They saw the potential of this speedster long before anyone else did and pushed him to constantly better himself. When he burst onto the scene last year as a surprise pick by Schmid as Seattle’s starting right back, no one really knew what he was all about. But as the season progressed fans would see something that can’t be taught: flat out speed. Originally a winger, Porter began to play him at right back at Akron and from there on out itwould be Yedlin’s position of choice. He still has much to learn; his defending is sometimes non-existent and his crosses leave something to be desired. But what better place than the English Premier League and Tottenham to hone those skills.
This move doesn’t mean that DeAndre is going to excel right off the bat. It will be a tough uphill climb just fighting to make it into the match-day lineup, but sometimes you have to just take a leap of faith, and that is exactly what he has done. He could have easily stayed in Seattle and continued his development state-side in a familiar system. Instead he chose to jump into the deep end and see if he can play with the world’s best. Quick, fast and talented outside backs are tough to find and Tottenham just scored a diamond in the rough.
But life isn’t easy and neither is the Premier League, but just because it will be tough doesn’t mean he shouldn’t try. The argument that “he shouldn’t go because he isn’t guaranteed to play” is valid for older players who may not have many international miles left in their legs, but not for a 21 year old rising star. As much as MLS wants to be a place that can properly develop world class US players, it just isn’t there yet. Before and during the World Cup, the back-line situation on the USMNT was a pivotal talking point. Why shouldn’t one of America’s most promising defenders go and try to develop his skills in a top-notch foreign league?
How many world-class outside backs are in MLS? Not many, and there aren’t any at all playing for the Sounders (not to say Jalil Anibaba isn’t an amazing defender). So who does he learn from? The coaching staff in Seattle is fantastic, but they aren’t good enough to give him the training he needs. What he needs is in North London.
DeAndre Yedlin will still be around for the rest of the season, and perhaps part of the next one. He’s one of Seattle’s sons and leaving home couldn’t have been an easy decision. But everyone has to leave home at some point, and even though he may fail, we know he’ll get back up and keep goingThe tide is turning, and he is leading the charge for the next generation of American players. He most certainly will not be the only MLS Homegrown Player to head overseas to test and develop their skills. Good luck DeAndre, and don’t worry if you fail, everyone back home will support you regardless.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” – Teddy Roosevelt
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