The European season is in its final weeks and for many U.S. men’s national team stars and squad players, the future looks very unknown at club level.
Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, and Sergino Dest headline the lengthy list of American loanees who will head back to their parent clubs this summer. Reyna is in the midst of a relegation fight with Nottingham Forest but doesn’t look set to stay at the City Ground after this season.
Tillman and Dest are both set to become champions of the Eredivisie this spring before heading into unknown futures. While both players have excelled in Holland this season, Dest’s long-term knee injury will force him to wait and see what happens with his parent club Barcelona.
Tillman, who signed a contract extension with Bayern Munich last year, might be in the plans for the Bundesliga side next season.
Paxten Aaronson, Brenden Aaronson, and Gabriel Slonina are just an added handful of Americans who also will be wondering what’s next after respective loan spells this season.
Here is a closer look at each of the American players on loan in Europe and what could be next for them:
Gio Reyna
Gio Reyna’s loan move to Nottingham Forest originally looked to be great news for the American attacker, but the 21-year-old’s time in England hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Reyna has made only 10 appearances for Nottingham Forest this year, registering one assist in Premier League play. After missing some time due to injury, Reyna has featured more frequently of late, playing 50 minutes or more in two of his last three appearances.
Reyna struggled for time during the first half of the season with Borussia Dortmund and after a frustrating period in England this spring, a move away from Germany might be his best chance of earning a starting job consistently for club and country.
Sergino Dest
Sergino Dest might not finish his loan spell with PSV on the field, but the fullback’s impact in Holland certainly won’t go un-noticed.
Dest will miss PSV’s final three matches of the season due to a serious knee injury, which reportedly will sideline him for the remainder of 2024. The Barcelona loanee impressed in Peter Bosz’s squad, totaling two goals and seven assists in 37 combined appearances (3,123 minutes).
Dest’s Barcelona contract is set to expire in June 2025, putting him in a tough situation to make an impact in Spain next season. However, PSV has reportedly shown interest in acquiring him permanently this summer, which could be Dest’s best chance of playing regularly again when healthy.
Malik Tillman
Another PSV standout was 21-year-old Malik Tillman.
Tillman, has been one of PSV’s more productive attackers this season, scoring nine goals and adding 15 assists in all competitions. After signing a contract extension with Bayern Munich last summer, Tillman was loaned to the Eredivisie, with hopes of featuring regularly in a competitive division.
He has certainly answered the call for the eventual league champions, but now will Bayern Munich reward Tillman with a first team role for 2024-25? If not, PSV might come knocking after watching Tillman shine in their colors this past season.
Brenden Aaronson
Whether or not Leeds United gains promotion to the English Premier League could be the deciding factor in Brenden Aaronson’s future at the club.
Aaronson, 23, has scored two goals in 35 combined appearances for Bundesliga side Union Berlin. The USMNT attacker struggled early in the season but since has rebounded with important minutes as Union Berlin aims to avoid relegation.
Leeds United is still in the mix for promotion back to England’s top-flight and will learn their immediate status by the end of Saturday’s regular season schedule. A strong end of the season for Aaronson is definitely a must, especially if he wants to not only feature for the USMNT this summer, but also earn a move away from Elland Road.
Jonathan Tomkinson
Bradford City provided Jonathan Tomkinson the chance to feature on a consistent basis in England’s fourth-tier and the American defender made the most of his opportunity there.
Tomkinson logged 2,000 minutes in 28 combined appearances for the Bantams, helping them reach the EFL Trophy Semifinals. After mainly featuring in the past for Norwich City’s U-23 and U-20 sides, Tomkinson featured against tougher opposition in League Two this season.
Norwich City’s status for next season remains unknown but Tomkinson could fight for a spot in the squad if the Canaries remain in the EFL Championship.
Paxten Aaronson
Vitesse’s pending relegation from the Eredivisie means Paxten Aaronson will return to Eintracht Frankfurt this summer, but will the Bundesliga side give him a larger role next season?
The 20-year-old midfielder has scored four goals in 11 appearances for Vitesse, most recently registering his first European brace last weekend. After being reduced to a substitute role during the first half of the season in Germany, Aaronson has been a frequent starter for Vitesse in 2024.
It seems unlikely that Frankfurt would sell Aaronson so quickly in his time at the club, so expect him to get a full summer in the squad before the 2024-25 campaign begins.
Jordan Pefok
Jordan Pefok’s time with Borussia Moenchengladbach is set to end this May, opening the door to what’s next for the veteran striker.
The 28-year-old joined from fellow Bundesliga side Union Berlin last August and since has contributed seven goals and four assists in 24 appearances. Pefok has brought a physical presence to the Gladbach attacking front, but isn’t expected to earn a permanent move to the club in the coming months.
A one-time exciting USMNT prospect, Pefok might need to look outside of Germany if he wants to feature regularly at club level again.
Gabriel Slonina
Gabriel Slonina came to Europe needing consistent playing time to truly have a shot at making the Chelsea squad and the 2023-24 campaign has certainly helped in that quest.
Slonina has featured regularly for Belgian first division side Eupen, making 32 starts to date and logging just under 2,900 minutes of playing time. The 19-year-old hasn’t enjoyed plenty of team success this season but has fought off competition for the No. 1 job throughout most of the year.
Cracking the Chelsea squad might be tough again for Slonina next season, opening the door to a potential loan elsewhere.
