American keepers who found success in England

If there’s one position where American soccer players have routinely found success overseas, and not had any “Yankee” stigma follow them around, it’s at goalkeeper. Several United States men’s national team goalkeepers have had long stays in Europe, especially in the Premier League.

The infatuation with arguably the world’s top domestic league has been so apparent for the US contingent that every starting goalkeeper for the USMNT in a World Cup since the first season of Major League Soccer in 1996 has played for an English club at the time of the competition — except for one, who just left the United Kingdom. Yes, that’s only three players as the backstop at five World Cups — Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller and Tim Howard. That streak would’ve likely been broken in 2018 by Brad Guzan, who signed with Atlanta United the year prior after a decade of playing in England. Only one problem: the US didn’t qualify for the most recent tournament. Thanks, Trinidad & Tobago.

The transfer window doesn’t close for another seven weeks but among the four goalkeepers with any chance to start the USMNT’s upcoming World Cup opener against Wales on Nov. 21, only Sean Johnson doesn’t play for an English team, suiting up for New York City FC. And he’s a long shot.

Another edition to the USMNT-to-England pipeline was added this week with 18-year-old Gabriel Slonina, reportedly having a verbal agreement in place with Chelsea. Slonina hasn’t been capped by the Yanks yet, but is a trendy pick to be the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup. Here’s a deep look at American goalkeepers who’ve played in the Premier League. 

The most capped goalkeeper in USMNT history rose up the ranks in the early days of the MLS, playing for parts of six seasons with the then-MetroStars. He became Manchester United’s starting goalkeeper before the start of the 2003-04 season and was officially under contract at Old Trafford for four years.

His time at Everton started with a loan from Man U in 2006 and Howard clearly found his groove with The Toffees. He made only 77 appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson, a total that skyrocketed to 414 in Merseyside. Howard even scored a goal in 2012 for Everton, the only one in his 819 career games for club and country.

Howard returned to MLS in 2016 to play four seasons with the Colorado Rapids, then got into ownership as part of the team behind Memphis 901 FC, which plays in the USL Championship, a second-tier American league. As the Premier League gained a wider national television audience in 2013 with NBC Sports’ acquisition, Howard’s stay at Everton was a prime example of an American excelling overseas. 

The oldest player to ever play in a competitive match for Tottenham and Aston Villa was Friedel toward the end of his long run in England. From 1997-2015, he played for four Premier League clubs, adding Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool to the aforementioned duo. Before Howard became the fourth goalkeeper to score a goal in league play, Friedel pulled off the feat in 2004.

Friedel still holds the Premier League record for consecutive appearances, a streak of 310 achieved through stays with three teams and lasted from 2002-11. Friedel is the fourth-most capped goalkeeper in USMNT history behind Howard, Keller (we’ll get back to him), and Tony Meola (played in England, but never in the top division).

Howard manned the nets for the USMNT in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, while Friedel also played in two tournaments in 1994 and 1998. He nearly beat out Meola for the starting gig in 1994. Since retiring in 2015, Friedel has coached the United States men’s under-19 national team and the New England Revolution. 

Howard’s heir-apparent in net for the national team and in the English spotlight never showed the consistency of his predecessor. Guzan more than held his own throughout his career and is still active with Atlanta United. Guzan first made the jump to England in 2008, after playing for the now-defunct Chivas USA.

Guzan was Aston Villa’s first-choice goalkeeper for most of his run with the team from 2008-16, with a loan move to Hull City in 2011. After a short stint with Middlesborough came his return to the MLS and America. He did earn 64 caps with the national team — fifth all-time — and had the inside track to be the Americans’ starter for the 2018 World Cup.

Guzan’s impact isn’t as large as Friedel or Howard but his play in the net is forgotten by large swaths of Yanks’ fans. He benefitted as much from playing in high-level leagues outside of North America as anyone else on this list. 

He’s one of the two major contenders to start in net for the USMNT in Qatar alongside Matt Turner, who transferred to Arsenal this summer. Turner has yet to make a league appearance for the Gunners, thus not being on this list. Steffen has been with Manchester City since 2019, spending the first year out on loan in Germany, and only has two more Premier League appearances than Turner.

That’s right, a whole pair. Dos. Shnayim. And Steffen knows it, with only 21 career appearances for Man City through any competition. In a World Cup year, that’s a major concern for the 27-year-old. If he can’t find more playing time — he is behind Brazilian netminder Ederson on the depth chart — his chances of being the Americans’ No. 1 in Qatar goes down.

It doesn’t matter if he’s looked good with the national team despite limited time with his club in the past. Training with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne can’t be a bad thing, but it only does so much. Steffen needs playing time with his likely selection to the USMNT roster. It’s a matter of where he’ll get it. 

The second-most capped USMNT goalkeeper in history played for five English clubs during his career. Most notably was a four-year run with Tottenham from 2001-05. Keller made 85 appearances with Spurs and was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Americans in the 2006 World Cup.

The 2006 showcase took place in Germany, where Keller was based at the time for Borussia Mönchengladbach. That’s the lone non-England stay for the starting USMNT keeper at the World Cup since 1994’s tour of duty from Meola. The end of Keller’s career saw him be the No. 1 goalkeeper for the first three seasons of the MLS version of the Seattle Sounders.

The longest stay of Keller’s career was with Millwall, who never reached the first division during his tenure with the club. Keller did make 175 appearances in four years. Keller also suited up for Leicester City, Southampton, and Fulham during his time in England. 

For as long as Hahnemann was a No. 1 goalkeeper in England, his successes rarely led to chances with the national team. He first debuted for the Yanks in 1994, fresh out of Seattle Pacific. After his first three matches with the national team all in that year, Hahnemann’s next appearance came in 2003.

That nine-year wait is a USMNT record in between caps, and Hahnemann only has nine career appearances with the Americans. He was named to two World Cup squads, backing up Keller in 2006 and Howard in ‘10. The majority of his skill was seen during his 272 career appearances with Reading.

Hahnemann played in four different divisions in England, reaching the Premier League with Wolverhampton in addition to Reading. He also had stints in America bookending his time in the U.K. with the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders. 

The Los Angeles Salsa? Yup, Feuer played for them. And he only had one cap with the USMNT in 1992. His career as a soccer journeyman has a long resume, playing for 12 different professional clubs. His longest stay was with Luton Town from 1995-98, which is where current American goalkeeper Ethan Horvath is on loan from Nottingham Forest.

Feuer made it to the Premier League in two different stays with West Ham United and a loan move to Derby County. An odd claim to fame: His sister Debra used to be married to Mickey Rourke. Nowadays, Feuer is an assistant coach with USC’s women’s soccer team. 

Baardsen is the only player on this list to never suit up for the USMNT, as he represented Norway at the international level. He was called in to play for the USA at the under-18 level, but switched his international allegiance before appearing for the Yanks’ youth side. Baardsen was born in the United States to Norwegian parents and spent his entire professional soccer career in the Premier League.

Baardsen played for Tottenham, Watford and Everton before retiring from soccer at the age of 25 in 2003. He only made 65 career appearances in the Premier League and represented Norway four times before hanging up his cleats. 

He’s the first American to play in the Premier League, doing so with Queens Park Rangers in 1995. He also played for Luton Town to begin his professional career. Sommer was also called into two World Cups. His time as the main goalkeeper for the Yanks was limited due to quality play in front of him from Meola and Friedel.

Sommer retired from professional soccer in 2001 and got into coaching, serving as an assistant coach for the USMNT at the 2002 World Cup, as well as that year’s Copa America and Gold Cup.