Christian Pulisic at Chelsea and Other US Athletes Playing Overseas
By
Will Brown
Contributor Updated: 14 January 2025
Will Brown Contributor
William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
US Stars Playing Overseas
Sometimes, US athletes find more success overseas than at home. In internationally popular sports such as soccer, American athletes such as Christian Pulisic at Chelsea FC have risen to the top. These international athletes are motivated by everything from earning huge salaries to entering less competitive leagues, giving them more opportunities than available in the US. In this guide, we’ve highlighted some of the most successful US athletes playing internationally.
Intro to International US Athletes
To begin this guide, we’ve discussed why some US athletes are motivated to play overseas. While it may be tempting to think that the athletes don’t have what it takes to make it at home, it’s often because there is more room to improve and grow in international leagues.
From here, we’ve highlighted some of the most notable international athletes, including Mason Cox, Zack Steffen, and Tyler Adams. Playing AFL, soccer, and basketball respectively, these sports stars have carved out names for themselves for their on-field prowess and making fans in the US proud.
- Why US Athletes Play Overseas
- Mason Cox AFL Player
- Zack Steffen American Soccer Player
- Christian Pulisic for Milan
- Nigel Williams-Goss RealGM
- Jordan Loyd Basketball
- Tyler Adams EPL
Why US Athlete’s Play Overseas
Whether it’s Christian Pulisic at Chelsea or Jordan Loyd for Monaco’s basketball team, the most common reason for athletes’ international moves is improved access to competition. For example, while Major League Soccer is the least popular of the major professional sports leagues in the US, in the UK and Europe, soccer is the most popular sport by far.
The competition is therefore much fiercer, with huge salaries offered to the sport’s top talent. Therefore, it makes sense for people such as Zack Steffen the American soccer player to go to where the competition is most developed. The same is the case for Mason Cox, who has moved to Australia to compete in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Not even the US sporting capitals can offer lucrative contracts for the AFL, with the game only played at a major league level in Australia. In the case of international basketball players, top US athletes are in hot demand, so moving can provide hefty pay packages and perks. Europea can also offer an alternative lifestyle to what’s available in the US that simply appeals to some athletes. Below, we’ve covered the career of Mason Cox AFL star.
Mason Cox AFL Player
Born in 1991 and raised near Dallas, Texas, Mason Cox’s move to play Australian Rules Football may seem incredibly random. This is because, in part, it is. While playing basketball for Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference, Cox was scouted and invited to attend the AFL Draft Combine, a gathering of potential new talents that puts their skills to the test.
Despite knowing little about the sport, he scored well on the tests and was invited to play for the successful Collingwood Football Club. At 6 ft 11 inches, Cox’s height is a huge advantage in AFL, and he has been a consistent goal-scorer for the team. He has appeared in two Grand Final games for the team, one of which was won.
In an interview with 60 Minutes in 2023, Cox claimed that the Australian fans have embraced him. According to Mason Cox AFL player, sections of the Collingwood crow chant, “USA!” every time he has possession of the ball.
Zack Steffen American Soccer Player in the EFL
Zack Steffen the American soccer player was born April 2, 1995, and despite his US nationality, he spent a good stint playing for international teams. This included a five-year stint with English Premier League team Manchester City, as well as loan periods for a German Bundesliga 2 team.
After playing for the Maryland Terrapins in college, Steffen was recruited to play for German reserve team SC Freiburg II. After the year-long stint, he returned to the US, where he played for the Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew for three seasons.
In 2019, Zack Steffen signed for Manchester City, one of the top clubs in the English Premier League. The transfer fee was worth an estimated $8.5 million. Just one season later, he was loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf, before once again returning to play for City the following year.
After a five-year international career, Zack Steffen returned to the MLS to play for the Colorado Rapids. Keep an eye out for Steffen at US soccer sportsbooks to make prop bets on his goalkeeping performances.
Christian Pulisic for AC Milan
Christian Pulisic is a Pennsylvania-born American soccer player who has become one of the most decorated US players in international soccer. In addition to his international career, Pullisic captains the national US soccer team, being the youngest player ever to do so. His skill is so immense that he’s been nicknamed “Captain America” in overseas soccer circles.
After training at the US Soccer Development Academy, Pullisic was drafted into the Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga team in 2016. After three successful seasons with the team, Pullisic was acquired by English Premier League team Chelsea F.C. for $73 million, a record price for an American player.
Christian Pullisic at Chelsea lasted for four years before he joined AC Milan in 2023. In his first year, the team won the 2025 Supercoppa Italiana. For the time being, it appears as though Pullisic will remain in Europe, though he is set to captain the US Men’s National Team once again in front of a home crowd at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026.
Nigel Williams-Goss – Greek Basket League
Nigel Williams-Goss was born on September 16, 1994, and is an American basketball player. He currently plays for the Olympiacos of the Greek Basket League. This came after a four-year career with Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga ACB, as well as the EuroLeague.
Before going pro, Williams-Goss played for the college team Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was then chosen by the Utah Jazz in the 2017 NBA draft as the 55th pick. After playing for the Jazz during the 2017 Summer League, Williams-Goss signed a two-year contract with Partizan, a EuroLeague-competing team in Serbia.
He then signed a three-year deal with Olympiacos. However, after one season, the player returned to the Utah Jazz, before signing with Russia’s Lokomotiv Kuban in 2021. After the Ukraine war broke out, a Nigel Williams Goss RealGM stint unfolded over three years. He then rejoined the Olympiacos in 2023 with a two-year contract. To wager on the player’s international performances, head to the EuroLeague lobby at basketball betting sites.
Jordan Loyd – AS Monaco
Jordan Loyd is an American basketball player born in 1993 who currently plays for AS Monaco Basket, a team that competes in the French LNB Pro A and EuroLeague. In his early life, Jordan Loyd went to Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia, and during his time at school, he ended up making a playoff appearance in each of his last two seasons. This included a state championship.
Loyd was selected as the team MVP once he became a senior. His professional career started in the 2016-2017 season when he was picked to play for the Ford Wayne Mad Ants. He ended up playing a total of 49 games for them, averaging 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.
After he remained undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft, Loyd shifted his focus to international competitions. His first move abroad came in 2019 when he signed a deal for one year with Valencia, of the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He ended up scoring a career-high of 30 points during his third game with Valencia.
Other personal records were also achieved in the game, including scoring four rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Over the next three years, Jordan Loyd’s basketball ambitions awarded him positions at Crvena Zvezda and Zenit Saint Petersburg, before he moved to AS Monaco Basket in 2022 where he remains today.
Tyler Adams – Premier League
Born in New York in 1999. Tyler Adams currently plays soccer for AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League. Like Pullisic, Adams also plays for the US men’s national team. Known for his versatility in various positions, Tyler Adams is considered to be one of the best American soccer players working today.
Adams began his career in his home state after training at the New York Red Bulls academy. By the age of 16, Adams was recruited into the New York Red Bulls II reserve team, before being promoted to the first team one season later. After three seasons with the team, Tyler Adams signed with RB Leipzig in 2019.
He followed a three year stint with the Bundesliga team, Adams joined the Premier League team Leeds United. With a reported transfer fee of $25 million, Adams initially signed a contract for five years. The fee was later triggered when he was acquired by Bournemouth FC one year later, and he continues to play for the team today.
