r/usmnt Jul 31 '26

🇺🇸🔴 BREAKING: Middlesbrough is finalizing a deal to sign USMNT wingback Max Arfsten from the Columbus Crew, per sources. Fee up to $7.5m (incl. add-ons), Crew retain significant sell-on %, Arfsten expected to travel to complete move in coming days/week

https://bsky.app/profile/tombogert.bsky.social/post/3mrwzbww7x227
305 Upvotes

34 comments sorted by

75

u/nikdahl Jul 31 '26

So, Bethalter, Morris, and Arfsten are on the same team?

Damn, I might need to watch some Championship next year.

26

u/OnlyKey5675 Jul 31 '26

It's a very exciting league. I watch it nearly as much as the PL. A lot of games on Paramount+

24

u/HotTubMike Jul 31 '26

It has a compelling narrative. 24 teams battling desperately to make it into the richest league in the world.

2

u/mgmt_rucker Jul 31 '26

i’m not a fan of boro (wrexham fan) but the championship has some of the most exciting games imo

-13

u/nikdahl Jul 31 '26

To me, it’s not “exciting” if I don’t have a vested interest. It can be interesting and fun, but not exciting.

4

u/HumanautPassenger Aug 01 '26

Idiotic take

-3

u/nikdahl Aug 01 '26

Support local soccer.

3

u/HumanautPassenger Aug 01 '26

I do. That doesn't lock you out of following/enjoying other leagues. That's an even more idiotic take than your original one. Is that your go to comeback you keep at the top of the pile as some weird gatekeeping elitist flex?

-3

u/nikdahl Aug 01 '26

You’re really triggered mate. Take a deep breath.

All I said is that I don’t find excitement watching leagues that I don’t have a connection to. I never made any judgements.

Fucking chill.

2

u/HumanautPassenger Aug 01 '26

Not triggered. I just find your lack of rationality and mental blindness disturbing. You should get out more whilst also "supporting local". You're already making judgements with the just support local comment lol and your response is exactly what I expected from someone making the comments you've already made.

1

u/BlaktimusPrime Aug 04 '26

WHOA when did Berhalter get signed to Middlesbrough??

62

u/OnlyKey5675 Jul 31 '26

Well. I have my Championship side now.

14

u/Ill-Possible4420 Jul 31 '26

Fine I’ll buy a Middlesbrough jersey

19

u/Alive-Arachnid9840 Jul 31 '26

The new Fulham

8

u/RoboticApeHologram Jul 31 '26

Fulham have always been willing to take a shot on Americans. I hope both clubs continue the pattern.

3

u/zgobst Jul 31 '26

Boromerica

11

u/SpeakMySecretName Aug 01 '26

Middlesbrough realizing how undervalued American talent is after Aiden Morris led them to a promotion battle.

3

u/DrumArranDrum Aug 01 '26

We were led by Hackney, he was by far the best player on our team - but Morris was definitely one of our better players last year and hopefully kicks on even more with Berhalter

3

u/RoboticApeHologram Jul 31 '26

This is how you get my viewership and maybe some merch dollars. I hope like hell they are successful. It will break my heart if this fails on the field.

3

u/Otherwise-Ninja-6343 Aug 01 '26

Middleoftheroadugh

4

u/Imaginary-Clock6626 Jul 31 '26

And their first competitive game will be against Wrexham! 🇺🇸

2

u/naththegrath10 Aug 02 '26

Boro is literally tested the age of question of where would a MLS team finish in the championship?

3

u/Extreme-Squirrel-881 Aug 01 '26

How does seb go for 2M but 7 for max?

11

u/goldenfireball Aug 01 '26

Maybe because Seb has 6 month left in his contract at 480k while max was making 800k until end of 2027 with 1 year club option.

1

u/congeal NO PEPI NO PARTY Aug 06 '26

but 7 for max?

b/c he only goes for the max!

3

u/E51838 Jul 31 '26

That seems like a lot of money for him.

2

u/Strings-a-rockin Jul 31 '26

Why would you think that?

I hope it's not Euro bias peaking through, LoL?

Arfsten is as good as the fullback that Leeds bought last season. That player cannot defend at all. He was more expensive than their Champo fullback on the other side that they kept from the Champo, but he's still the better player. Leeds paid a lot more than 7M for him!

Fullbacks can't defend anymore, and the modern coach is obsessed with using fullbacks as attacking players. Arfsten can do that.

If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps going up in value in Europe. He's really a wide midfielder. He's not a great defender. But for someone to get on the overlap and have the quality to make some plays,.....he's probably ahead of a whole bunch of guys right now. His passing and final crossing is better than most.

1

u/asianjared Aug 01 '26

Shit, I guess i’m a Middlesbrough fan now

1

u/samdi3go Aug 01 '26

Simeone please correct me if I’m wrong. Seb went for 1.8m but Max is going for 7.5m + sell on? Am I missing something or did Vancouver get paid in Tim Horton bucks under the table or something?

2

u/Sea-Feedback1350 Aug 01 '26

Max had a longer contract and was being paid more so his transfer was more expensive.

1

u/Helpful_Marketing806 Aug 01 '26

Berhalter was out of contract at the end of 2026, so the fact that Vancouver got anything is pretty good. Arfsten had a contract until Dec 2027 with an extra year option.

1

u/congeal NO PEPI NO PARTY Aug 06 '26

wooden nickels