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At the end of the 2019-20 season, rumors quickly swirled about an American midfielder from Texas who had called Schalke home becoming a Juventus player on an initial loan deal. As these deals always play out when it comes to a member of the USMNT playing in Europe, there were questions about if an American had what it takes to be a part of Italy\u2019s largest club, and play alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Giorgio Chiellini, and Paulo Dybala. <\/p>\n
That American was none other than Weston James Earl McKennie, the son of a U.S. Air Force officer, who spent a good portion of his early years growing up in Germany, where he honed his footballing prowess and even turned down a scholarship offer to play at the University of West Virginia. Surely he knew that his time to go pro was closing in fast. <\/p>\n
Within his first season, the preconceived notions of Americans playing in Europe began to dissipate. He became the first American in Italy to ever play against Ferencvaros in the Champions League, scored an equalizer against Torino in the Derby della Mole, and even scored on a scissor kick against Barcelona in the group stage of the same Champions League season. Though it was in an empty stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the image of the American wearing Juventus\u2019 navy blue away kit while performing his trademark Harry Potter celebration became an iconic photo. <\/p>\n
But all was not perfect, as a metatarsal injury ended the following season prematurely for him, and he would find himself loaned out to a relegation-fighting Leeds in January of 2023. Eventually, Leeds found itself in England\u2019s Championship division, and the American took a flight back to Turin, eager to prove himself. <\/p>\n