EAST HARtFORD, Conn — Even after another impressive showing for the United States national team on Friday night, perhaps the biggest story surrounding Seattle Sounders defender DeAndre Yedlin is when he’ll leave Major League Soccer and continue his career in England next year.
But Yedlin – who signed a deal with Tottenham in August after breaking through with the US team at the World Cup – said Friday that there are no updates if he’ll make his move in January or next summer.
Yedlin is currently working to obtain a Latvian passport through bloodlines on his mother’s side to try and avoid obtaining a UK work permit, and he said Friday that “once I know the passport situation then I’ll know about January.”
Yedlin also admitted that playing time is a factor in when he will make the switch. He’s enjoyed a strong run of games recently with the Sounders, so he isn’t in a hurry to go from a situation where he’s a regular starter to a team where he’s fighting for minutes.
“It depends on the situation. I think if I’m still playing a lot with Seattle then it’s something I have to think about, there’s no reason to have me go in,” Yedlin told MLSsoccer.com. “Ultimately it comes down to [Tottenham manager Mauricio Pocchetino], what he wants. He’s making the decision on when I come.
“Obviously he has confidence in me, but these guys have experience at this level,” he added. “It’s going to take me time to adjust. I’m not expecting to go in right away first day and start. So if I’m playing, there’s no reason to take me out of that environment.”
There is little doubt that US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann would like to see Yedlin get to Europe as soon as possible to continue his development at the highest level.
“Obviously I want him to finish with Sounders on the highest note possible,” Klinsmann said Friday, “then he makes that jump into the Premier League. And breaking into that level will be a huge challenge.”
The biggest question will be where Yedlin will play once he gets there. On Friday he thrived at right midfield, where at times he rubbed shoulders with West Ham’s Enner Valenica. It’s a position that Klinsmann appears perfectly happy to let him continue playing for the national team after first giving him a shot there during the World Cup.
“I think we can really push things forward if he plays in front of a right back,” Klinsmann said. “In that case tonight it was Timmy Chandler. I thought they combined really well and obviously the difference that DeAndre makes is speed. Every team fears that. DeAndre is absolutely an option to play for us further up.”
Yedlin admitted playing in the midfield for 90 minutes was a bit new for him after spending his college and pro career at right back.
“Overall I thought it was pretty good,” he said. “Defensively, it’s a little bit different. When you get the ball there’s always a guy on your back so you have to be more technically sound. But at the same time it was nice to be in more attacking role, with more attacking responsibilities. Instead of having that whole right side to cover, it’s just that half which makes it a little easier.”
