Clint Dempsey, Christian Pulisic, Tim Howard US TransfersGetty Images
Ryan Tolmich

Christian Pulisic to AC Milan, Clint Dempsey to Fulham and Tim Howard to Everton: The most brilliant USMNT transfers, all-time

From Pulisic's move to the Rossoneri to Dempsey signing with the Cottagers, GOAL looks at the five greatest USMNT transfers

Not all transfers are created equal. Some are done for players looking for a stepping stone, others for those looking for a fresh start. Either way, all transfers are about decisions, and not every decision is an easy one.

But they are pivotal. One transfer can make or break a career. One wrong move can halt a player's momentum for years, while one correct one could ultimately lead to a player earning legendary status.

U.S. men's national team stars have had their share of good and bad transfers. This is about the great ones. With the transfer window looming and more decisions on the way, GOAL rates the five most impactful USMNT transfers, those moves that ended up defining an era for both the players and their clubs.

  • Tim Ream Fulham 2023-24Getty

    5Tim Ream to Fulham, 2015

    Tim Ream was something of a proven commodity when he arrived at Fulham in 2015. He’d already spent several years as a Championship regular with Bolton Wanderers, making 114 league appearances. But Ream kept elevating his game at Craven Cottage, right up until his departure for Charlotte FC and MLS this summer.

    Ream spent nine seasons with Fulham, making 281 league appearances and serving as a regular throughout the club’s yo-yo journey between the Premier League and Championship. Given those ups and downs, that longevity is even more impressive. No matter the league or the situation, Ream was Fulham through and through.

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  • Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic - Premier LeagueGetty Images Sport

    4Brad Friedel to Blackburn Rovers, 2000

    You can't get cheaper than free!

    After never quite breaking through at Liverpool, Friedel moved to Championship side Blackburn on a free transfer in November 2000, helping the club earn promotion to the Premier League. Just two years later, he was leading the club to a trophy, earning Man of the Match in the League Cup final win over Tottenham.

    In 2002-03, his 15 clean sheets earned him Blackburn's Player of the Year, as well as PFA Premier League Team of the Year honors.

    Don't forget that, for a time, Friedel was the Premier League's most consistent goalkeeper - and the ultimate value add for Rovers.

  • Clint Dempsey Fulham 2010Getty

    3Clint Dempsey to Fulham, 2007

    Fulham paid just $4 million to sign a player that ended up becoming a club legend. That's's money well spent.

    After breaking out in MLS, Dempsey was signed in 2007 to follow in the footsteps of Brian McBride (who's own transfer was noteworthy). From the very start, Dempsey was a key figure at Craven Cottage, but he certainly got better as he went on.

    The club's 2010-11 and 2011-12 Player of the Season, Dempsey scored 60 goals for Fulham, scoring more each season leading up to his 23-goal outburst in his final campaign with the club.

    By the time he was sold to Tottenham for a then-record $9.6 million for an American player, Dempsey had carried Fulham higher than the club had ever been, making this transfer the definition of a win-win.

  • Howard EvertonGetty

    2Tim Howard to Everton, 2006

    Out of all of the Americans to play in Europe, there isn't one as synonymous with a club as Howard is with Everton.

    He didn't arrive with much fanfare. After losing his spot at Manchester United, Howard moved to Goodison Park ahead of the 2006-07 season. It was initially a loan, but it quickly became permanent for a fee of around $3.1 million (£3 million). Neither Howard nor Everton ever looked back.

    Howard went on to make 414 appearances for the Toffees, solidifying his place as a modern legend. His near-decade-long run set a new standard for Americans in Europe.

  • AC Milan v US Sassuolo - Coppa ItaliaGetty Images Sport

    1Christian Pulisic to AC Milan, 2023

    Pulisic needed a reset. After repeatedly falling out of favor at Chelsea, he was a player searching for confidence. He found that, and more, at AC Milan.

    The American's $25.9 million move to Milan in 2023 has proven a masterstroke for both player and club. In Milan, Pulisic found a club willing to trust him and willing to give him the time he needs to grow. And, in Pulisic, Milan found a player capable fo being a legitimate star, and, judging on recent form, he's only going to get better the more his confidence grows.

    Pulisic's story is still being written, but there's no denying that this was a major win for both player and club. Pulisic found himself ar a crossroads and, ultimately, he took the perfect path.