There’s a new infusion of American intrigue again this season at Sunderland.
The Black Cats made noise stateside on the final day of this year’s summer transfer window, bringing DeAndre Yedlin north from Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the remainder of the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League season. The move comes less than a year after fellow American Jozy Altidore left the Stadium of Light after an 18-month campaign where he scored one goal in 42 league appearances.
“Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to get playing time and get back in the groove of playing. I'm looking forward to it,” he said. “All parties that were involved felt it was a good place for me to go.”
“I feel like I can relax a little bit now that when I go back, I know where I'm going.”
Yedlin, the former Seattle Sounders product, was just around the corner from Sunderland’s sister club D.C. United when he got the news of the perfect opportunity to make an impact and gain experience in the Barclays Premier League. The 22-year-old is with the U.S. Men’s National team for friendlies on Sept. 4 against Peru at United’s home, RFK Stadium, and Sept. 8 against Brazil at Gillette Stadium outside of Boston.
The Seattle native only appeared twice for Tottenham, but he’s been in England since the winter following his MLS offseason move to London, so he won’t be starting from scratch in what is arguably the world’s toughest league.
“I grew off the field as well,” he said. “I've had to live by myself in a different country. I know they speak the language, but it's a lot different living there. I finally feel settled and just feel like I've improved – on the field but also off the field as well. I'm ready for this next challenge.”
Yedlin, 22, burst onto the international scene at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as a super-sub running down the flanks for the U.S. late in games despite having made his senior team debut in January of that year. His rapid rise reflects his great potential.
"We're very pleased, because hopefully it gives him more playing time," U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann told reporters this week.
At Sunderland, Yedlin will play under Dick Advocaat, who has had his share of experience with Americans, having helped groom Aron Johannsson at AZ Alkmaar as well as former Black Cat Claudio Reyna at Rangers in Scotland. Yedlin will join fellow American Lynden Gooch, a 19-year-old who continues to make great progress through Sunderland’s ranks and could be poised for the next step in his career, too.
“It's a league that you really have to get used to...it's tough,” Yedlin told reporters. “Getting the experience of playing in a Premier League team and just getting, hopefully, consistent games, will be huge for me.”
