US national team defender Jay DeMerit is expected to return to the United States and play in the MLS for the first time as a professional soccer player next season. The former Watford of the English Championship League player has been looking for work overseas for the last four months since the World Cup ended, but DeMerit has found few promising job leads while abroad and apparently has grown tired of looking for work in Europe.
The US defender played every minute in this summer’s World Cup and was linked with moves following the tournament to some prestigious destinations including Everton of the EPL and Wolfsburg of the German Bundesliga. For whatever reason no club has landed DeMerit yet, but the American also didn’t rule out the possibility of a European-based club suddenly coming out of the woodwork to offer the national team regular a spot on their roster:
Since playing back in the U.S. was always something I wanted to do, and have yet to do, it seems like the time is right. Until I sign a contract with any club, of course I’m open to anything. But my main focus at the moment is coming back to the MLS. I know things can always change in a second in this sport.
So it appears that DeMerit will likely join the MLS, but no team has been officially linked to acquiring the American player yet. The new expansion team the Vancouver Whitecaps will have the first opportunity of any club to land the defender consider they have the top spot in priority over international players that return to the league. But if DeMerit doesn’t want to live the life of a Canuck then he will likely be traded for some picks and possibly players in order to join an American-based squad.
But that is of course if DeMerit even comes to the league in the first place. As he said himself, things can always change in a second in this sport.
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