So it's a day after watching Jozy Altidore record his first two-goal game as a pro and couldn't help but think about the recent trend of young American players making the move to Europe and the realization that Altidore will leave MLS far sooner than I ever expected.

As recently as five months ago I would scoff at people who suggested that Altidore was going to leave MLS early.

Earlier this summer, Hamburg had plans to loan American midfielder Benny Feilhaber to get him first team experience. Those plans now appear to be out the window. American Soccer Daily is reporting that Derby County are on the verge of signing Feilhaber. The Premiership newcomers and Feilhaber have already agreed on the basics and now are negotiating the details.

Freddy Adu is getting a quick education in how different European soccer is from Major League Soccer.

Benfica manager Fernando Santos was fired after one league match, a draw against newly-promoted Leixos. That's right. One match. Santos should send his resume to clubs in MLS, where you can go months without a win and still keep your job.

Shortly after FC Copenhagen tied the match at one with Benfica, Freddy Adu was called upon and is on the field for the Portuguese giants in their 3rd Round Champions League match. MLSU will keep you updated on the status of this game and Adu's performance.

Good morning folks. I was going to save this for the Americans in Europe roundup, but decided to give you guys an early-morning treat.

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley continued his goal-scoring exploits this weekend, scoring the game-winning goal to help Heerenveen overcome an early red card and post a 1-0 victory over Vitesse Arnhem on Sunday.

Clifton native and Columbus Crew midfielder Danny Szetela has reached a contract agreement with Serie A power AS Roma and will join Roma once his MLS contract expires on Dec. 31st.

Szetela still has to go to Italy to sign the deal, which should take place in the next week or so.

Roma beat out several European clubs for Szetela's services, including Rangers, Lazio, Galatasaray and Everton.

U.S. Under-20 national team midfielder Sal Zizzo has completed a move to German club Hannover 96. Zizzo joins U.S. national team defender Steve Cherundolo at the club and joins Heath Pearce as the second American player to make a move to the Bundesliga this summer.

Zizzo starred for the U.S. team at the Under-20 World Cup, showing flashes of brilliance on the right flank.

Will he or won't he? That seems to be the hot question surrounding whether Giuseppe Rossi will actually consider playing for the U.S. national team and change his mind about playing for Italy.

Why the sudden spark in interest? It comes on the heels of Bob Bradley admitting that Rossi has been contacted about the possibility of playing for the United States.

Freddy did it again.

Yes, Freddy Adu scored another goal and Benfica fans are starting to feel the same Adu-mania that enveloped MLS fans just a few years ago.

Adu was the only American to deliver a goal in Europe last week, but there were plenty of other quality performances.

Good morning all. The World Cup qualifying draw was this past weekend and it gave us plenty to look forward to in the next two years. from England's chance at revenge against Croatia to the USA drawing an easier path to the Hexagonal than Mexico.

We also had increasing talk about Jozy Altidore going to Europe.

Upon scoring his first goal of the 2007-2008 season to give Fulham a 1-0 lead over Middlesbrough, Brian McBride's knee buckled without contact from any defender. McBride appeared to be in significant pain and was shortly thereafter taken out of the game. Signs at this point are not good and it is likely McBride has suffered a serious injury. More on this story as it unfolds.

A week after playing key roles in the U.S. national team's impressive showing against Brazil, both Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley scored goals for their European club teams.

Dempsey scored Fulham's lone goal in a 1-1 tie with Wigan. Bradley scored the final goal for Heerenveen in a 5-2 thrashing of Excelsior.

DaMarcus Beasley was also on the scoresheet on Saturday, scoring Ranger's second goal in a 4-2 loss to Hearts.

U.S. national team winger DaMarcus Beasley was taken off the field on a stretcher during Rangers' 3-2 loss to Stuttgart on Wednesday. The details of Beasley's injury are not known yet but Rangers manager Walter Smith is calling the injury serious.

More on this as information becomes available.

Michael Bradley cannot stop scoring.

The U.S. national team midfielder netted his first career hat trick on Sunday to lead Heerenveen to a 4-2 win against Groningen on Sunday. Bradley scored all three goals in the first half to help Heerenveen win its derby.

When was the last time an American scored a hat-trick in European soccer?

In case you hadn't heard by now, Clint Dempsey had a dream day for Fulham on Saturday. He had a hand in all three goals to help Fulham come back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to salvage a 3-3 tie against Tottenham.

Dempsey powered home a first half header to make the score 2-1. He then salvaged what looked like it might be a turnover by getting a good pass off near the top of the box that was turned into another Fulham goal.

Freddy Adu's stock keeps on rising. The young American striker scored his first league goal for Benfica, netting a game-winner in the 87th minute to help Benfica score a 2-1 victory against Maritimo on Sunday.

Adu's goal follows his Champions League group stage debut at midweek and his late game-tying goal in Benfica's Portuguese Cup match last weekend.

Danny Szetela will depart for Spain on Saturday to have his physical and finish off all details of his transfer move to Racing de Santander.

I spoke to Szetela Friday night and he is equally excited and relieved that this whole transfer saga is over.

Here is some of what he had to say:

On choosing Spain and Racing

"Out of all the opportunities I had a style of soccer that I wanted to play and that style is played in the Spanish League," Szetela said.

Kasey Keller has found a job and it is with a team that has shown an affinity for signing Americans.

Fulham has signed Keller, who should step in and become the team's starter. If you haven't seen the amazing blunder by current Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner last weekend you missed a real howler. Regular starter Antti Niemi is injured, which means Keller could have a chance to play a key role for the Cottagers.

Danny Szetela has not signed with Roma, Brescia or even new player Newcastle United. At least not yet.

Conflicting reports have the Clifton-born midfielder headed to everywhere from Rome to England but as of early this evening Szetela has yet to sign a deal with anybody. Sources close to Szetela insist that the Columbus Crew midfielder has yet to decide where he will move to next.

Former MLS star and Benfica midfielder Freddy Adu made his debut for the Portuguese club on Tuesday, playing 53 minutes in Benfica's Champions League qualifying win against FC Copenhagen.

Adu came in with the match tied and was on the field when Rui Costa scored his second of two goals to win the match. I'm sure we'll hear more about how he did in the next 24 hours.

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Heerenveen's season-opening scoreless draw with Willem II on Friday.

Fresh off a busy summer that saw him play well for the US national team at the Gold Cup and be nominated for the Gold Ball Award at the Under-20 World Cup, Bradley has earned a starting role with the Dutch club after a season in which he struggled for playing time.

For those of you who haven't seen them yet, here is a highlight reel of the goals from Heerenveen's 5-3 victory against Helsingborg, including both of Michael Bradley's goals. Bradley's second goal is especially impressive, though the penalty-drawing tackle he delivers in the next sequence brings a cringe. Overall, still a great showing from a 20, yes 20-year-old American midfielder.

Ahn nyeong ah se yo everybody. It is Morning morning and even though ice storms are covering large parts of the country, it is still soccer season.

There will be plenty to blog about today, from the U.S. Under-17 team's exploits this past weekend to updates on Toronto FC and the expansion Seattle MLS franchise.

Ok folks, I promised you a list earlier today of Americans playing overseas. Note: This list contains several, but not all of the players overseas. It includes American players in most of the significant leagues around the world. For example. the large number of American players in Germany's Regionaliga are not included. Second, it only includes players who have received professional contracts.

US national team midfielder Benny Feilhaber has secured a UK work permit, which will allow him to move from Hamburg to Derby County.

Feilhaber, who enjoyed a strong summer for the United States this summer, joins the newly-promoted English club on a move that should help him earn first-team action in the English Premier League.

What do you think of Feilhaber's move to England?

Danny Szetela's professional career will see him head to the Italian capital to play for AS Roma. The Herald News is reporting Szetela has reached a contract agreement with Roma and will join the Serie A club after his MLS contract ends on December 31, 2007. Szetela becomes the third US Under 20 to sign a European contract since the conclusion of FIFA U-20 World Cup in July.

As you know by now the Herald News was the first to report that Clifton native Danny Szetela had reached an agreement with AS Roma on a transfer. Here is an update on the deal:

AS Roma is set to sign Danny Szetela to a three-year contract worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.2 to 1.5 million, which doesn't include the housing and car he will also receive from the Italian club.

Clifton native Danny Szetela was presented to the fans of Racing de Santander today after completing his move to the Spanish club. Szetela should be available for the club's next match, on Sept. 16th against Levante.

Here is my column on Szetela's decision to sign for Racing in today's Herald News. I will try to get in touch with Szetela when he returns to the United States to sort out his move so look out for a story on his first impressions of Spain in the near future.

Good morning SBI Nation, it is Tuesday and there should be plenty to discuss today. I will start the day off with the weekly installment of Americans Abroad.

There were no goals scored by Americans this past weekend but there were more players playing than usual (at least it seemed that way).

Good afternoon everybody. It was a rather low-key weekend for Americans in Europe. There were no hat-tricks or crazy goals to speak of, though there was a shutout (by Tim Howard) and another win for Michael Bradley's Heerenveen. There was also another set of Did Not Play notes for Derby duo Eddie Lewis and Benny Feilhaber.

Danny Szetela is heading to Spain.

After Nearly two months of transfer speculation and negotiations, the Columbus Crew midfielder has passed up offers from Roma and Newcastle (among others) to play for Spanish First Division side Racing de Santander.

The Herald News has learned that Szetela has signed a three-year deal with the Northern Spain-based club, which began the La Liga season in solid fashion by tying Barcelona last weekend.

Michael Bradley can't stop scoring.

The U.S. national team midfielder netted his fourth goal in three matches for Heerenveen, netting his team's first goal in a 3-2 loss to FC Utrecht. Bradley scored in the 50th minute to tie the match at 1-1 but Utrecht scored two late goals to win.

Bradley was the only European-based U.S. national team player to score this weekend, but he wasn't the only American-born player to score.

After the United States quarterfinal appearance in the 2007 Under 20 World Cup, the question was when not if but when the first player on that squad would make the trip across the Atlantic? The answer is UCLA winger Sal Zizzo as he has signed a three contract with Hannover 96. Zizzo joins first choice USA right back Steve Cherundolo at the Bundesliga club.

University of North Carolina defender Eric Lichaj has left the Tarheels to join Aston Villa of the English Premiership. Lichaj has signed a two year contract with the Villans, but won't be able to play until September because of a broken foot. Lichaj is expected to play with Villa's reserve team once he recovers from injury. ------------ Check the link to the right for an updated list of

American international Benny Feilhaber has been approved for an English work permit to play for Derby County. Feilhaber will head to Derby tomorrow to complete the transfer. The US Gold Cup hero will not factor into the club's first Premiership contest of the season because he will not be properly registered in time for the match.

In honor of Eddie Lewis' arrival in the EPL (and thanks to the suggestion of an SBI reader) here is the All-American EPL Best XI:

-------Brian McBride-----------Johann Smith------

Bobby Convey--------------------------Clint Dempsey

------Benny Feilhaber----Carlos Bocanegra-------

Eddie Lewis--------------------------------Eric Lichaj

---------Jay DeMerit*---Jonathan Spector---------

--------------------Tim Howard--------------------

Okay, so we need DeMerit to be sold to Fulham (Which is a possibility) to fill out a full starting XI.

Seton Hall alum and Don Bosco Prep product Ian Joyce has signed a contract with English club Watford FC. Joyce will join fellow American Jay DeMerit on the team currently running away with first place in the English first division.

Joyce, who played for Seton Hall in 2006, spent time with English Conference squad Gray's Athletic before signing with Watford.

Less than 48 hours since the US was eliminated from the Under 20 World Cup, the chase for the signature of Danny Szetela continues. The reputable American Soccer Daily has spoken with Szetela's agent Shep Messing and the leaders in acquiring Szetela are Scottish club Celtic and Italian club Siena. Also in the mix are the likes of Herth Berlin (Germany), Parma (Italy), and Reading (England).

Clifton native Giuseppi Rossi has been sold by Manchester United to Spanish club Villareal for an undisclosed fee. Reports have the fee in the 10 million Euro range.

Villareal beat out Italian clubs Parma and AC Milan for the services of the 20-year-old striker, who will head to Spain on Wednesday to complete his move.

Rossi scored nine goals in a half season with Parma while on loan from Manchester United, helping Parma avoid relegation.

Soccer by Ives has updated its original story on Danny Szetela's pending move to Roma. According to the report, all that's left to be done is for Szetela to travel to Rome to sign a contract reported to be a 3 year deal worth a total of between $1.2-$1.5 million. For MLS to match that deal, Szetela would have to be paid with DP money. The report also indicates a possibility is still out there