USMNT Transfer Grades: Arfsten Joins Boro for $7.5M as Reyna Hits Ligue 1

Max Arfsten earns a B+ grade for his $7.5 million move to Middlesbrough, joining Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris in the Championship.

The 2026 summer transfer window features significant movement for the U.S. Men’s National Team player pool, highlighted by Max Arfsten’s $7.5 million (€6.5m) transfer from Columbus Crew to Middlesbrough on August 4. Arfsten, a 25-year-old left wingback, joins a Boro squad that ranked fourth in the Championship in goals last season. Despite playing just a single minute for the U.S. in the most recent World Cup, Arfsten arrives at the North Yorkshire club to compete with Matt Targett for a starting role under manager Kim Hellberg. The Californian attacker is noted for his two-footed ability, though he joins a defensive system often utilizing three at the back to mitigate his defensive limitations.

Gio Reyna, 23, has completed a $5 million (€4m) move from Borussia Mönchengladbach to Strasbourg. This marks his fourth club since January 2024 following a stint at Gladbach where he registered fewer than 600 minutes of play. The New York City FC academy product recently scored a trivela goal in a victory over Paraguay after being selected for the World Cup roster by Mauricio Pochettino. Reyna, who has not surpassed 1,000 minutes in a single season since turning 20, enters a Strasbourg side that is reportedly considering offers for attacking midfielder Julio Enciso, potentially opening a tactical vacancy for the American.

Middlesbrough Secures Berhalter and Arfsten

On July 28, Sebastian Berhalter moved from the Vancouver Whitecaps to Middlesbrough for a $2 million (€1.75m) fee. The 25-year-old midfielder leaves a Whitecaps team that currently leads the Western Conference and remains in contention for the Supporters' Shield. Berhalter’s contract was set to expire in December, prompting the sale. He is expected to fill the void left by Hayden Hackney, who transferred to Everton. Berhalter joins fellow American Aidan Morris at Boro, a club coming off a fifth-place finish in the Championship. The move earned an A- grade as the ball-striking specialist looks to transition his physical style to the English second tier.

Bryan Reynolds Returns to France

Stade Rennais secured 25-year-old right back Bryan Reynolds on July 9 for $5 million (€4m) from KVC Westerlo. Reynolds, who previously played six times in Serie A for AS Roma, has not appeared for the USMNT since 2023. He joins a Rennais team that finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and frequently rotated players like Przemyslaw Frankowski, Alidu Seidu, Mahamadou Nagida, and Mousa Al-Tamari into the right back position. The former FC Dallas defender provides versatility for a club that utilized both back-four and back-three defensive sets during their previous campaign. This transfer received a B- grade as Reynolds seeks to re-enter the national team conversation under Pochettino.

Goalkeeping Shifts and Loan Deals

Diego Kochen, a 20-year-old goalkeeper from Barcelona’s La Masia academy, has joined Danish side Lyngby Boldklub on loan as of July 2. Kochen earned an A grade for the move, having already been integrated into the starting lineup for the newly promoted Danish top-flight club. Prior to this loan, Kochen made 37 appearances for Barcelona’s B team and served as the senior squad's third-choice goalkeeper last season. The U.S. pool currently lacks a definitive successor to 2014 World Cup starter Tim Howard, particularly after Matt Freese struggled with inconsistent play during the most recent tournament. Kochen has represented the U.S. at every youth level and participated in training camps led by Mauricio Pochettino.