Timothy_chandler_-__hasan_bratic_-_eintracht_frankfurt Hasan Bratic/ISI
News roundup

Three Yanks head to Europe, Chandler scores, & More

A trio of young Americans inked deals to European teams while Timothy Chandler continues to be red hot this year and might just end up in the Champions League. Meanwhile, the Red Bulls might be in line for yet another big trade. 
BY Brian Sciaretta Posted
February 19, 2018
12:15 PM
ON THE HEELS OF A DIFFICULT weekend for Americans abroad, there was a flurry of news on Monday with a trio of Americans inking new deals for European teams and another scoring an important goal for his club.

Lloski to Legia Warsaw


At last month’s MLS Superdraft, the Colorado Rapids selected UCLA winger Brian Iloksi with its third round pick. Typically, most third round picks are not offered contracts. Instead, Iloksi was able to earn a deal with Legia Warsaw, the current leaders of Poland’s top flight. He recently trained with the club during the Florida Cup and impressed.

Iloksi, 22, was named All-Pac-10 in his recent senior season where he had six goals and three assists in 16 games for the Bruins. Over his four year career he played in 67 games and scored 14 goals and added 12 assists.

A native of Escondido, Calif, Iloksi has had a limited history with U.S. youth national teams. In high school he had three call-ups to the U.S. U-18 and one to the U-20 team in January 2014.

As a holder of a Macedonian passport, there are fans of the Macedonian national team that are hopeful this gets their federation to take notice.

Barbir to AFC Astra


A veteran of the United States 2015 U-17 World Cup team, Danny Barbir inked a professional contract with AFC Astra of Romania’s top flight on Monday.

Barbir, 20, has spent his youth career with Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion, and recently the Vancouver Whitecaps. The move to Astra could result in his first-team breakthrough. Barbir was born in Georgia and raised in Pennsylvania but holds a Romanian passport through his father.

Astra are currently sitting in fourth place in Liga I.

Zyen Jones joins Schalke


In recent years, Schalke has been very active in signing young American players. Of course Weston McKennie has already paid huge dividends but the club also has Nick Taitague playing for its U-19 team and Haji Wright out on loan to Sandhausen in the 2.Bundesliga.

On Monday, the club announced it had signed U.S. youth international and Atlanta United academy product Zyen Jones. The young attacker can play either as a winger or as a forward and next year he will play with Schalke’s U-19 team.

In 2017 Jones played with the U.S. U-17 team in World Cup qualifiers but was not part of the World Cup team.

Chandler scores important goal


Timothy Chandler remains one of the most in-form American players at the moment after scoring for Eintracht Franfurt on Monday in a huge 2-1 win over RB Leipzig.

With Eintracht trailing 1-0 in the 21st minute, Chandler scored from close range after a botched Leipzig clearance to even the game. Minutes later, Eintracht would score the game’s final goal. The result moved Eintracht into third place in the Bundesliga and the club is in strong contention for a Champions League berth next year.



There is no denying that over the past 10 games, Chandler has been one of the better right backs in the Bundesliga.

Wingert retires


Chris Wingert, 35, announced his retirement from soccer after a 14 year career where he played for four different teams in MLS. The most defining moments were with a seven year run with Real Salt Lake where he won the 2009 MLS Cup. A classy player that was highly respect by all throughout the league, the New York native earned his one national team cap in a friendly against Sweden in 2009.



This past offseason has seen some significant retirements. Bobby Boswell, Robbie Rogers, and now Chris Wingert.

Parker set for big trade?


On Friday night, the Steven Goff dropped a major bit of news that the New York Red Bulls might be making a push for Vancouver Whitecaps standout central defender Tim Parker. That would significantly give the Red Bulls an upgrade in the backline and would also offer a homecoming for Parker who grew up in Long Island and played for St. Johns.

Parker, 24, was a veteran of the U.S. U-23 team and has had a few national team call-ups although is still awaiting his first U.S. national team cap.

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