Ricardo Pepi’s transfer to Augsburg in the winter transfer window means 44 percent of teams in the Bundesliga have an American in the ranks. How many Americans play in the Bundesliga those who don’t feel like doing math might ask?
Here’s the list of eight American players expected to get minutes in Germany’s top flight in 2022.
How Many Americans Play In The Bundesliga 2022
- Gio Reyna, Borussia Dortmund
- Tyler Adams, RB Leipzig
- John Brooks, Wolfsburg
- Ricardo Pepi, Augsburg
- Chris Richards, Hoffenheim (on loan from Bayern Munich)
- Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Julian Green, Greuther Fürth
- Timothy Chandler, Eintracht Frankfurt
The players on the list who will likely aid the USMNT in World Cup qualifying are Reyna, Adams, Pepi, Richards, Brooks and Scally.
Gio Reyna
Reyna has been out injured for both club and country since early September when he picked up a hamstring issue against El Salvador in World Cup qualifying. After missing nearly three months, the 19-year-old returned to training near the end of November but has yet to feature in a game.
Gio Reyna is back in training! pic.twitter.com/rUY6fIY1o7
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) November 30, 2021
Reyna made his debut for Dortmund’s senior team in early 2020 and provides an exceptional spark in attack for any team he plays on. Reyna has 10 goals and 11 assists for Dortmund in his career heading into 2022.
Tyler Adams
RB Leipzig and Adams are experiencing one of the club's worst seasons in the Bundesliga so far. Leipzig finished among the top three in the Bundesliga in four of the last five seasons but now sits in 10th heading into the new year.
Adams has made 20 appearances for the club and featured in five of Leipzig’s six Champions League games. Adams has started all but one of the USMNT’s World Cup qualifiers and is a rock in the defensive midfield.
John Brooks
Brooks will be one of the most interesting players to keep and eye on in 2022 for American fans. The veteran USMNT defender is in the midst of a form crisis this season.
Brooks was left out of Gregg Berhalter’s last World Cup qualifying roster for inconsistent form and attitude issues, and he’s experiencing similar issues with Wolfsburg.
2/ It points out that Brooks has become the “problem child” at Wolfsburg, subbed off at HT in the 0:3 “horror performance” (Bild’s words) in Mainz & not picked at all for the crucial CL MD6 showdown with Lille.
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) December 10, 2021
“The decision to leave me out of this this camp isn’t surprising given some of my recent performances.”
Impressive accountability from John Brooks. Here’s his full statement to @FOXSports on being left off the latest #USMNT roster: pic.twitter.com/i5CdZzIbSH— Doug McIntyre (@ByDougMcIntyre) November 4, 2021
USMNT fans will be rooting for Brooks in 2022 as his experience and skill at his best add a huge boost to the team.
Ricardo Pepi
Pepi has his work cut out for him with Augsburg. The American teen’s new club is one point above the relegation zone. Augsburg is one of five clubs in the Bundesliga with less than 20 goals at the halfway point of the season.
The 2021 MLS Young Player of the Year was brought to Augsburg to do one thing: score goals. If “El Tren” can do that, then he could see himself secure the striker position for the USMNT too.
He is settling in just fine ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/xX83wxUJym
— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) January 5, 2022
Chris Richards
Richards has been in Bayern Munich’s system for three years now and has seen most of his minutes on loan with Hoffenheim. The 21-year-old has broken into the USMNT ranks with six caps and has made 16 appearances for a Hoffenheim side eyeing a Champions League spot.
The highlight for Richards this season was scoring a last-minute winner against Freiburg in December. This was his first Bundesliga goal.
USMNT defender Chris Richards scored a stoppage time match winner for Hoffenheim today! It was his first Bundesliga goal.
Look at what it meant ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VVUKw5E6UH— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 11, 2021
Joe Scally
Despite being the most consistent starter on this list, Scally’s name isn’t the most well-known among USMNT fans. The 19-year-old was called into Berhalter’s latest World Cup qualifying roster but didn’t make his first appearance for the national team.
Scally is a versatile player who has featured at right back, left back, right midfield and left midfield for Gladbach this season. All 19 of his appearances have been starts, going the full 90 minutes 14 times.
It’s shocking that the youngster hasn’t broken into the USMNT ranks yet. On the bright side for Scally, he did score his first Bundesliga goal in October.
Julian Green
After helping Fürth into the Bundesliga, things have been downhill for Green and his club. The 26-year-old who scored THAT goal against Belgium in 2014 has struggled to be a consistent starter. Meanwhile his club is destined for relegation with five points from 17 games.
Green’s last appearance for the USMNT was in Nov. 2018 in a 3-0 friendly loss to England.
Timothy Chandler
Chandler is the forgotten man on this list of Americans in the Bundesliga. The 31-year-old has seen his final days playing for the national team as his last appearance was over five years ago.
Chandler has been enjoying life with Eintracht Frankfurt for the last seven years and continues to make appearances for the club. He has 12 appearances so far this season as Frankfurt is in the hunt for a Champions League spot.
