USA

CeCe Kizer is, like many Americans in the NWSL, playing in Europe this fall as the U.S. fails to contain Covid-19. The Houston Dash midfielder didn’t go on loan to a well-known club in England like Tobin Heath and Christen Press (Manchester United), Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis (Man City) and Alex Morgan (Tottenham). Instead she found herself a club to get some playing time while the NWSL plays a mostly meaningless Fall Series back home.

In a way, it can be a bit exhausting following all the young American stars in Europe these days. As soon as we get used to Weston McKennie playing for Italy’s most famous club, Sergiño Dest moves to Barcelona. As soon as we finish gushing over a performance from Tyler Adams, Giovanni Reyna does something like he did on Saturday. It might just be a golden age for Americans abroad, and we’re not going to complain, nor are we going to stop celebrating these Americans, because everyone who grew up in the 90s or earlier can really appreciate just how special this moment in time is.

There is no better evaluation of a player’s talent than how he juggles the ball in an empty stadium upon his unveiling at a new club — we’ve already proven this to be infallible. So, was Sergiño Dest juggling upon his Barcelona introduction really as bad as the internet wants you to think? Is the American teenager a fraud?

A day after an alleged homophobic slur by one player against another led to San Diego Loyal SC walking off the pitch in protest and forfeiting their USL Championship match against Phoenix Rising FC, the Rising on Thursday announced they placed midfielder Junior Flemmings — the player at the heart of the allegation — on administrative leave.

Rising coach Rick Schantz also took leave, but unrelated matter to a USL investigation, the team announced.

New Barcelona signing Sergino Dest said he "followed his heart" by turning down a move to European Champions Bayern Munich in favour of the Catalan side.

Dest became the first United States international to join Barca on Thursday, signing from Ajax Amsterdam on a long-term contract at the Camp Nou.

USWNT star midfielders Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle joined Manchester City in August. They’ve already got their new club within striking distance of winning the FA Women’s Cup.

Mewis scored her first City goal and Lavelle made her City debut in an impressive 2-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Women’s Cup semifinals on Thursday. 

The Gunners had won their first three matches of the season by a combined 19-2, including a 4-0 rout of Alex Morgan’s Tottenham on Saturday. 

“We will speak. We will act.”

That was the promise made by San Diego Loyal SC players after teammate Elijah Martin was racially abused in a match against LA Galaxy II last week. The USL club had a plan to join together with Wednesday night’s opponent, Phoenix Rising, to halt the match in the 71st minute to raise banners with the phrase in a show of solidarity against white supremacy.

Barcelona have completed the signing of United States full back Sergiño Dest from Ajax for $24.70 million plus five more in variables, the LaLiga side said on Thursday.

Barca's statement added that Dest, 19, had agreed to sign a five-year contract with a release clause of $470 million. Dest, who broke into Ajax's first team from their academy last season and has played three times for the U.S., will be officially presented on Friday.

SALONIKA, Greece — Danish side Midtjylland qualified for the Champions League group stage for the first time in stunning fashion on Wednesday after scoring three goals in the last seven minutes to beat more fancied Slavia Prague 4-1 on aggregate in their playoff tie.

They were joined by Russians Krasnodar, who ground down PAOK Salonika 2-1 in the return leg in Greece after beating them by the same score last week, while Salzburg eased to a 3-1 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv for a 5-2 overall victory.