Americans Abroad Tier Rankings: From Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie to Tyler Adams and Tim Weah, who’s in the picture and who has to get out of there?

Christian Pulisic: Perhaps the only criticism you can make of Pulisic this year is that he endured a dip in form around an entirely predictable injury in the winter. Otherwise, he was arguably the best player for Milan, providing goals and assists for the Rossoneri in what was otherwise a miserable season for the Italian giants. There will continue to be questions about his ability to carry a team at a European level, but performances against Inter, Liverpool and Real Madrid - not to mention 20 goal contributions in Serie A - does all of the talking.

Antonee Robinson: Is Robinson the best left back in the Premier League? if not, he's pretty damn close. The marauding full-back was excellent for Fulham all season, proving a lockdown defender and ever-improving presence for a well-drilled side. His 10 assists in the Premier League speak for themselves but his defensive numbers - above the 90th percentile in tackles, interceptions and blocks - are perhaps more impressive. There is talk of a summer move to a team that will offer European football. He deserves it.

Ricardo Pepi:Could Pepi become a Premier League striker? It seemed to be on the cards in January, after the forward was tearing it up for PSV in their title push. He smashed his previous best for goals, and there was genuine interest from West Ham. A knee injury rather derailed things, but the 22-year-old from Texas proved that he can be a dangerous all round forward for years to come.

Josh Sargent: What is Sargent's actual level? At this point, he is far too good for the Championship, but not yet Premier League proven. Well, at least there's solace to be taken in the latter, with Sargent tallying 20 goal contributions for Norwich in England's second division. Now it's about taking the next step.

Johnny Cardoso: An American midfielder with pausa? Cardoso's first season at Betis was a little underwhelming. This one was excellent. The imposing defensive midfielder was all over the pitch in the latter half of the season for the Spanish side, and talk that Tottenham could be bringing him in is entirely deserved. Most importantly, he looked wonderfully controlled on the ball with the potential to become the kind of tempo-setting midfielder the USMNT badly needs.

Malik Tillman: He scored 15 and assisted four in all competitions for PSV this year - shouldn't that be enough? Probably, but injuries once again reared their ugly head for the dynamic attacking midfielder. A flirtation with 20 goal contributions in all competitions is nothing to be sniffed at, though, and USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has an interesting attacking weapon on his hands. It's just a shame that he plays in the same position as another guy who might just be better.

Chris Richards: A list of defenders who can claim to have put Erling Haaland in their pocket? Virgil Van Dijk, Antonio Rudiger, Chris Richards. That's not bad company. But Richards was excellent for the latter half of the season for Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola and Man City tried to target him in the FA Cup final, and it was pretty much no use, the former Bayern Munich man turning in a formidable performance as part of Oliver Glasner's back three. In truth, it had been coming for months. The only reason that he's not among the best is that he needed a while to find his feet. Lock him up in the XI for the first game of 2026.

Tyler Adams: Those who know ball will rightfully tell you that Adams is by some distance the best midfielder in the USMNT ranks. And Andoni Iraola unlocked new levels this year. A few months of injury soured things, but Adams developed into an all-action pressing presence for the Cherries, who punched well above their weight in the Premier League. It will be interesting to see how he functions for the USMNT.

Weston McKennie: Can someone please give this fella a position? McKennie, you are a left back. No, hang on, you are a right back. Maybe try a bit of center mid, No. 10, or a defensive midfield role while you're at it? There's something to be said for being a Swiss Army Knife, but the inverse is also true: no one quite knows what to do with McKennie. He's clearly very good at this sport, yet needs to lock down a position to become something more than the Texas James Milner (if you know, you know.)

Cameron Carter-Vickers: Let's face it: Celtic don't have much defending to do at all. But when they do, CCV steps up. Brendan Rodgers taking charge of Celtic was a wonderful thing for the American center back, who really developed over the course of the season. A few gritty Champions League performances further cemented his quality. Is this his ceiling? Perhaps. But he's a crucial part of a title winning team, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Auston Trusty: Wanna know the difference between Carter-Vickers and Trusty? The latter has a mistake in him. While CCV exudes cool, Trusty is a bit more frantic. A move away from Sheffield proved to be smart for the former Colorado Rapids man, who settled in well in the Scottish top flight. Imposing and improving on the ball, it's now on Trusty to show that he can be more than just a duel monster.

Haji Wright: He may play for Coventry, but it's worth remmbering that Wright was sidelined for most of Frank Lampard's midseason revolution. Still, he was always in the team when healthy, and impressed as a No.9, grabbing 12 goals in 27 matches. The issue now is finding a position. Wright likes to run the channels, and is really dangerous when he gets off the mark. If he can find a spot - or system - where he's allowed to be a bit more mobile, then his game could go to the next level.

Tanner Tessmann: He handled the step up from second division Italian football to the French top flight well, impressing at times for Lyon - even if he wasn't a nailed-down starter throughout. Tessmann was really good in brief spurts, but also looked inexperienced when games opened up. It's worth remembering that he's still just 22, and will certainly mature at a position that requires a bit more experience. The next step will be bettering his 13 starts.

Brenden Aaronson: Leeds fans hate him, Americans love him. The reality is Brenden Aaronson is somewhere in between. A nuisance off the ball with a bit of quality on it, he hasn't quite developed into the all-round No. 10 that many hoped. Still, he was vital in the early days of the season for Daniel Farke's men, and started 43 of 46 games for a side that won the Championship. That might be his ceiling, but he's certainly doing something right.

Paxten Aaronson: The only issue with Paxten is that it's hard to judge how good Utrecht really are. But he's certainly improving, and tallied 12 goal contributions in all competitions for a side that snagged an unlikely fourth-placed finish in the Eredivisie. It will be interesting to see where he goes next. Does he need another year there, or is he ready for a step up? This seems to be a crossroads for someone who could go on to be a real talent.

Yunus Musah - Rough one for Yunus. It's not that Musah has been bad as much as the fact that neither of Milan's two managers this season ever truly trusted him. It's tough to be a midfielder at Milan, especially given the quality of players in front of him. The issue is, Musah had to seize the moments he was handed, and he never truly took advantage. It didn't quite come off for him, all said, but his all-round quality, perhaps more long term as a box-to-box midfielder, is clear to see.

Mark McKenize: Was McKenzie ready for a step up in quality from the Belgian Pro League? Sure. Was Toulouse the right spot? Not quite clear. The American defender did a whole lot of defending for a pretty mediocre side, and looked at home in a back three. But his numbers were pretty underwhelming, and he perhaps could have gone somewhere a little lower in quality, but with the opportunity to play in a back two. He didn't do loads to bolster his USMNT case.

Caleb Wiley: Leave MLS? Needed. Go to Chelsea? Wrong. Get loaned out to a middling French club, pick up an injury, and then get sent to a struggling Championship side that doesn't really need you? Yikes. The left back is a real talent, but managed just 16 appearances in league play, and never found form in an injury-riddled campaign. Chelsea has been the trapping of many a talent, and he could do with a club that will give him more minutes.

Kevin Paredes:He has undeniable quality, but just hasn't been given the opportunity to show it. He managed just two Bundesliga appearances - both of them starts - for Wolfsburg, but looked right at home when he did. Stay fit, and his potential to be a really good winger for a solid Bundesliga side is there. It's just a question of being on the pitch.

Tim Weah: He has played for four clubs in the last nine seasons, and it might be time to make it five. He has never quite settled in at Juventus, and despite showing some moments of potential, he didn't nail down a starting spot for the Italian side. An experiment as a No. 9 was ultimately the reason Juve realized they needed to bring in a new striker. That's no indictment on Weah - who isn't a natural fit there. But he just needs to be someplace that will let him cook on the wing.

Gio Reyna: Has there been a player who more obviously needs a transfer in the history of ever? OK, that may be a bit dramatic, but the attacking midfielder managed to stay (mostly) fit and still had another wasted season. Three managers walked through the doors at Borussia Dortmund and exactly none of them trusted him. Two goals in the Bundesliga is nowhere near good enough for someone who is, by some distance, the most naturally gifted player in the USMNT's pool.

Matt Turner: What are we doing, Matty? You're supposed to be the USMNT's No. 1 goalkeeper and you're riding the bench for Crystal Palace. Turner needs reps, and making just four cup appearances isn't good enough - even if all of them came in wins.

Diego Kochen: There are some who are really high on Kochen. And he may yet be a top player. But we will never know if he's just the backup's backup for Barcelona. More minutes for the 19-year-old somewhere else should offer a clearer picture.

Folarin Balogun: Was Monaco ever really the right move for Balogun? After dominating for Reims in 2023, his form has dipped. Injuries haven't helped, but Balogun has managed just 26 league starts in the last two years and was relegated the bench by the end of the campaign. At 23, he still has a lot of football ahead, but could do with new digs.

Gianluca Busio: Venezia aren't very good. Busio needs to play for a better team. Valiant failure sounds noble, but isn't for a good reality for a footballer who should be thinking bigger.