Ricardo Pepi is climbing the Eredivisie ladder. After a star-making season on loan with Groningen, the United States men's national team striker is now heading to one of the Dutch league's true giants, PSV. It's a massive move for the young striker, who will now leave Augsburg behind to join a PSV team that will play in the Champions League qualifiers next season after finishing second in the Eredivisie.
Pepi will know exactly what to expect from the Dutch top-flight. He did just score 13 goals for Groningen, after all. In a league that has long been hailed as an attacker's paradise, Pepi proved he can score on a team that suffered relegation. What will he now be able to do on one that is chasing titles?
The former FC Dallas star isn't the first American star to shine in the Eredivisie, a league that has, traditionally, been a good landing spot for USMNT talent. Legends like DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore all had fantastic spells in the league, while current USMNT regulars Sergino Dest and Luca de la Torre kickstarted their careers in the Netherlands. Even Gregg Berhalter, now returning as USMNT coach, had a productive spell in the Netherlands, which he discussed and length before playing Louis van Gaal's side at the World Cup last year.
And so after confirmation of Pepi's $11-million move, GOAL takes a look at the history of USMNT stars in the Netherlands:
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