Published 2/3/2007 7:54:38 PM by Staff from SoccerAmerica

Americans figured in 15 moves to European clubs during Europe's winter transfer window that closed on Wednesday. Reflecting the talent drain to Europe, the 2006 Honda Player of the Year Clint Dempsey, the top college prospect Charlie Davies and the 2006 USL1 Rookie of the Year Cam Weaver all moved to European teams. Within Europe, U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year, Oguchi Onyewu, joined Newcastle United from Standard Liege.

Former U.S. national team captain Claudio Reyna left Manchester City to be reunited with Coach Bruce Arena at the New York Red Bulls in the first major move during the U.S. primary transfer window. Other European-based U.S. internationals rumored to be heading home are DaMarcus Beasley and Eddie Lewis. (The primary U.S. transfer window opened Jan 15 and doesn't close until April 15.)

On the last day of the Europe's winter transfer market, U.S. U-20 Johann Smith was loaned from Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League to League One (third level) Carlisle United. Smith played for one game each in the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup for Bolton.

Several collegians spurned MLS to move to European clubs, including two goalies drafted by MLS teams in the fourth round of the 2007 SuperDraft. San Diego State keeper Tally Hall, a second team All-American taken by Los Angeles, has signed with Danish club Esbjerg, currently in sixth place in the top-level Super League. Hall, 21, trained with the club for a week in January and has signed a three-year contract. French club Metz made a last-minute effort to attract Hall but was unsuccessful.

Hall is the second Galaxy draft pick to sign in Europe. The club took Cal defender Steve Purdy in the supplemental draft even though a pending deal with 1860 Munich was well-known. Purdy's move to 1860 was announced last week. Luis Robles, drafted by D.C. United out of the University of Portland, has signed an 18-month deal to play for Kaiserslautern's reserve team, which plays in the Regionalliga (third division). An MLS club retains league rights to a drafted player for two years whether or not he signs with a club from outside the league.

AMERICANS ON THE MOVE
USA to EUROPE
Charlie Davies Boston College to Hammarby (Sweden)
Clint Dempsey New England Revolution to Fulham (England)
Gabriel Enzo Ferrari New York Red Bulls youth to Sampdoria (Italy)
Tally Hall San Diego State to Esbjerg (Denmark)
Kamani Hill UCLA to Wolfsburg (Germany)
Steve Purdy Univ. of California to 1860 Munich II (Germany)
Luis Robles Univ. of Portland to Kaiserslautern II (Germany)
Cam Weaver Seattle Sounders to FK Haugesund (Norway)
Josh Wolff Kansas City Wizards to 1860 Munich (Germany)

WITHIN EUROPE
Ramiro Corrales Hamkan (Norway) to Brann (Norway)
Oguchi Onyewu Standard Liege (Belgium) to Newcastle United (England) (loan)
Giuseppe Rossi Newcastle (England) to Man. Utd. (England) to Parma (Italy) (loan)
Johann Smith Bolton Wanderers (England) to Carlisle United (England) (loan)
Brian Waltrip Sandefjord (Norway) to Sogndal (Norway)
Jeremiah White Gueugnon (France) to Aarhus (Denmark)

EUROPE to USA
Chris Lancos Kaiserslautern II (Germany) to Real Salt Lake
Claudio Reyna Man. City (England) to New York Red Bulls

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