GOAL US writers preview the Championship and debate which USMNT contenders could make the World Cup squad
Patrick Agyemang confused a fair few fans when he switched Charlotte FC for the Championship. The USMNT striker had found form in North Carolina, and after playing well for coach Mauricio Pochettino, seemed well placed to continue his growth in America.
But Derby County came calling, and he answered. With the move, he became the latest of a handful of U.S. contenders to move to England's second division. It's a tough league, high on physicality but low on technical quality.
Still, it can be a good spot for youngsters to cut their teeth. And there are a few here who could do with the harder graft of things. Southampton's Damion Downs and Watford's Caleb Wiley, for example, still have plenty to prove – and could do with a season to develop in a difficult spot.
And then there are the likes of Josh Sargent, Haji Wright and Agyemang, players who have open USMNT windows, but perhaps only for a limited time. It might be wise for them to step up.
GOAL US writers debate the future of USMNT players in the Championship in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
GettyWho are the USMNT players to watch in the Championship?
Tom Hindle: With the gigantic caveat that it's the English Championship and we all have better things to do with our lives, probably Haji Wright. He was good for Coventry when fit, and he could be a spark they need up front. Not sure he's the best USMNT fit, considering he's neither a true No. 9 nor left winger. But he's a decent forward, and showed last year that he can be a real handful in transition.
Jacob Schneider: Wright could have the biggest impact on the USMNT. Pochettino's squad lacks wing depth, and depending on how Wright is utilized by Frank Lampard this season, he could be a major asset in preparation for the World Cup. It's easy to forget, but he scored in the 2022 World Cup for the USMNT. He has what it takes to be a contributor for 2026.
Alex Labidou: Damion Downs is such an intriguing prospect, and 2025 appears to be the year for him, getting his first national team appearance in the Gold Cup after helping Koln get promoted. Southampton are one of England's most storied clubs. They've shown time after time that they are among the best in development. From what he's shown on the national team, Downs is a unique option at striker. He's tall and quick, which suggests he should be either a target or pressing style forward. Yet, as shown at Gold Cup, he plays more like a supporting or second striker. It's fascinating and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the Championship, a league that's all about athleticism and grinding out results.
Ryan Tolmich: Let's go with Downs, largely because he's the player with the most unknown ceiling. We got a brief look at him this summer with the USMNT and last year with FC Koln, but Downs is still fairly inexperienced in senior soccer, with roughly 40 appearances. Now, he's with Southampton, one of the biggest and best talent developers in the world. What can they do with him? If history is any indication, the answer is much. And that's good for the USMNT.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportCan Josh Sargent win the Championship Golden Boot?
TH: Be serious. He can barely stay fit for half a season. If he was going to leave the Championship, he would have by now. The math ain't mathing at the moment.
JS: It's doubtful that Josh Sargent will be playing in the Championship this season, but on the minuscule chance he stays with Norwich, it would be difficult to see that happen. Without Borja Sainz in the mix at Norwich, they've lost their most efficient creator. Again, though, he won't be in the Championship, so it won't matter for Sargent.
AL: Yes, but there are a few caveats. One, will he be in the league for much longer? Typically, strikers who have proven themselves year after year in England's second division don't stick around long. He already rejected a move to Wolfsburg, and there's still time left in left in the transfer window. Another concern would be injuries. He missed almost two months due to a groin injury. If he ends up staying, yes, he should be a strong favorite for the Golden Boot.
RT: Depends. Does he stay long enough to do it? Summer rumblings have indicated that Sargent may not be long for the Championship. If he does stay, though, it's tough to bet on him, largely because of injury issues. He had the pace over the last few seasons, but various injuries have kept him out of the race. Until he proves he can stay healthy for one full, long, grueling Championship season, it seems unlikely.
gettyWhich U.S. Championship player is most likely to be playing top-flight European football?
TH: Probably Downs, if only because he plays for a team that's a little too good for the Championship. Southampton are probably locks to go back up to the Premier League, and Downs will be in the setup in some way. Whether he starts is unclear, but he will have some sort of a role to play.
JS: Downs likely has the most potential of any American in the Championship. Southampton are a team with ambition, so it will be interesting to see how their 2025-26 season goes. This is a make-or-break year for his World Cup dreams. He needs 13-plus goals in England this season.
AL: Sargent appears most likely, but that's boring. So let's go with another USMNT hopeful who could boost his stock with a strong campaign: Caleb Wiley. He got off to a strong start in Ligue 1 last year, but injuries derailed his progress. When he came back, Strasbourg decided to go in a different direction – prompting some turbulence before he ultimately ended up with Watford, where he had a strong season half of the season. Wiley can potentially build on that and create value – whether at his home club Chelsea or other suitors around Europe. Left backs who can attack and defend, even at a decent level, are hard to find so Wiley, just 20, has a chance to make name for himself here.
RT: Sargent aside, it's probably Wright, who has seemed due for some time now. Like Sargent, Wright has put up numbers in the Championship, and his versatility across the front line would seemingly make him an asset for better teams. Again, though, injuries play a part, and Wright is dealing with one right now. When he's healthy, he'll have a point to prove.
Getty Images SportWhich U.S. international is in danger of relegation?
TH: Well, there's a lot of mid-tableness going on, isn't there? Mathematically, it's probably Watford and Wiley, who have struggled the past couple seasons, and haven't markedly improved this year, either. But the alarm bells aren't ringing anywhere.
JS: There is not a single team with an American rostered in the Championship that will be at risk of relegation.
AL: Derby County have tried for just under two decades to return to the Premier League after putting forth the worst top-flight campaign in history – with a shocking 11 points. This is a franchise that has had more chaos than stability in that span. All of that is to say, Agyemang finds himself in a precarious situation. It was revealed after his signing that he will be sidelined at the start of the season due to a previously unmentioned injury. Without preseason giving him a chance to acclimate, in a club that hasn't proven to make prudent decisions in the past, there is legitimate reasons to worry for Agyemang – a player who appeared locked in as the USMNT's No. 3 striker while playing with Charlotte FC.
RT: One of the reasons Agyemang's move was so bold was because it would be a chance to sink or swim. Say what you want, but Agyemang will be "the guy" at Derby County, and the club's fate will very much rest on his shoulders. After finishing 19th last season, the Rams brought in the ex-Charlotte FC forward for the fourth-largest fee in club history. It's the largest of the 2020s, though, as the club has dealt with financial issues throughout the last few years. The Rams are all in on Agyemang, a player unproven at this level. If he thrives, they'll be fine. If not?
