USA’s Alex Freeman Reportedly Agrees to Villarreal Transfer

[ad_1] One of many USA's finest younger soccer skills is on his method to Spain.

U.S. males's nationwide crew right-back Alex Freeman is reportedly set for a transfer to Villarreal from MLS crew Orlando Metropolis, based on The Athletic. The deal is reportedly value a possible payment value not less than $7 million, in addition to a sell-on clause for Orlando.

The 21-year-old defender will make the leap to Spain's LaLiga after turning into a breakout expertise for MLS. His versatility within the back-line earned him an All-Star choice in 2025 and the league's Younger Participant of the 12 months honors. His six objectives had been tied for many amongst MLS defenders.

The son of former NFL star Antonio Freeman, he has earned 11 caps with the USA and was a part of the squad that reached the Gold Cup ultimate in 2025.

Alex Freeman has change into a dependable roster call-up for USA supervisor Mauricio Pochettino. FOX Sports activities soccer insider Doug McIntyre initiatives him to be a part of the 26-man roster for the USA on the 2026 World Cup, the place he might begin within the again line for Pochettino.

Learn extra: Projecting the USA's 26-Man World Cup Roster

Final November, McIntyre spoke with Alex Freeman – who had a breakout efficiency with two objectives for the USA in a 5-1 pleasant win over Uruguay in Tampa – about his dream of taking part in in Europe and securing a spot for the World Cup.

"I must be in the perfect kind for the World Cup," Alex Freeman mentioned earlier than that Nov. 18 recreation. "I’m comfy in Orlando. I do know I’ll be capable of play my recreation there, know the tradition, employees, know all the pieces I've to do. It will depend on what I wish to do and what I really feel is finest for me. If one thing occurs, possibly I transfer. However the World Cup is coming. I must be prepared for crucial time in my life."

In that recreation in Tampa, the youthful Freeman had a spotlight second when he skated previous Uruguay's Ronald Araujo — top-of-the-line defenders in world soccer — and scored his second aim of the evening.

Learn extra: Alex Freeman on the World Cup and His Tremendous Bowl-Profitable Dad

When McIntyre spoke with the elder Freeman after that recreation, he recounted how his son was a late bloomer and that his progress spurt did come till he was 15 or 16. Alex now stands an inch taller than his 6-foot-2 father, who received a Tremendous Bowl with the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 1996-97.

"He was all the time telling me and his mother that he wished to dribble on guys … Being a proper fullback, he not often will get a chance to get that isolation," Antonio Freeman informed McIntyre about his son's efficiency in that recreation. "Watching him simply ease by means of the protection — it was simply an incredible show of athletic capability, the way in which he dropped his hips, and was in a position to change instructions.

"I used to be actually, actually impressed. And came upon that he did it towards top-of-the-line defenders on the earth [in Araujo]? That was like icing on the cake."

Now, the youthful Freeman will get to indicate his skills with a Villarreal facet that's battling to safe a Champions League spot for subsequent season. The membership presently sits in fourth place within the desk behind conventional powerhouses Barcelona, Actual Madrid, and Atlético Madrid.