Major League Soccer is renowned for being a home for stars towards the end of their careers. Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are just a handful of the iconic names to take their talents to MLS, but what about the players who go in the other direction?
In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of MLS exports who have enjoyed success in Europe’s top-five leagues.
Here are three of the best former MLS players in European football.
Tim Ream
Those who are looking to place a football bet will see the number of former MLS players featuring in betting markets for the top-five leagues has increased notably. For instance, Paddy Power’s Premier League odds have been impacted by the performances of players with MLS experience for several years, dating back to Brian McBride, Tim Howard, and Clint Dempsey. More recently, Tim Ream has accumulated 97 Premier League appearances.
After stints with the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls, Ream penned a deal with Bolton Wanderers in 2012. Following relegation with Bolton, Ream played three years in the Championship before signing with Fulham for an undisclosed fee.
25th August 2015: Tim Ream makes his debut for Fulham in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) October 7, 2023
7th October 2023: Tim Ream makes his 300th appearance for Fulham in a 3-1 win over Sheffield United.
Full circle. ⭕️ pic.twitter.com/UNzELg9jep
Ream has become a stalwart in west London, and serves as their vice-captain. He’s endured relegations in 2019 and 2021, with promotions in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Twice winner of Bolton’s Player of the Year and claiming the same award at Fulham, there’s no question the USMNT central defender has been a success in Europe.
At 36 years old, the question is whether Ream can continue at this level for much longer.
Miguel Almiron
After dazzling for Atlanta United, there was a race to land Miguel Almiron in 2019. Newcastle landed the Paraguayan for what was reportedly the largest fee ever paid for an MLS player.
Almiron has witnessed a major turnaround in the northeast of England with huge investment in the Newcastle squad. After spending years fighting relegation, Newcastle have qualified for the Champions League, and currently have the sixth-shortest odds to win the 2024-25 Premier League.
Almiron excelled in 2022-23 with 11 Premier League goals, but the 2023-24 campaign was a disappointing one, and he lost his starting place in the final few weeks of the season.
Tyler Adams
Tyler Adams missed the last 14 matches of the 2022-23 season due to a hamstring injury, then was troubled by injuries throughout the 2023-24 campaign after a move from Leeds to Bournemouth.
Repeatedly injuring his hamstring meant Adams went over a year without a Premier League appearance. Back spasms then caused him problems near the end of 2023-24. The USMNT captain is still one of the best former MLS players in Europe, however, and he spoke positively about the time off.
“All of a sudden you like fall off a cliff and you’re kind of irrelevant in that moment. But for me I kind of enjoyed that, if I´m being completely honest with you, after such a whirlwind of a season, after the World Cup, after everything, my world kind of flipped upside down for a brief moment. And being injured I just had a moment to regroup.”
Been a minute. Good to be back 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/YbT0g578bD
— Tyler Adams (@tyler_adams14) September 27, 2023
Adams was fit enough to play for the USMNT at the 2024 Copa America, and will have a big role to play for Bournemouth in 2024-25. The Cherries project to be a mid-table team again after ranking 11th in expected goal difference.
The Wappinger native has gone from strength to strength since leaving New York Red Bulls in 2019, and will be desperate to bounce back from this injury layoff.
Conclusion
As MLS goes from strength to strength, we are bound to see more players excel in Europe’s top leagues. Clubs in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, and La Liga should be looking to the USA for talent in the coming years.
