Brotherly Game Daily Links: Freese makes USMNT gameday squad for first time

Philadelphia Union News

Homegrown Matt Freese dresses for first time with USMNT
Originally called into the U.S. U-23 camp in January, Freese impressed in the January camp and was given the honor to dress for the international friendly with the No. 24 kit behind New England Revolution’s goalkeeper Matt Turner. 

MLS News

FC Dallas sells Bryan Reynolds to A.S. Roma for franchise-record fee
He joined FC Dallas as the 17th Homegrown in club history on Nov. 22, 2016 and became the youngest to ever sign with the club at 15 years and 147 days old. Reynolds appeared in 29 matches for FC Dallas since making his MLS debut in the final minute of a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC on May 19, 2019. He recorded four assists, including three during the 2020 season where he was the club’s MVP, Breakout player and Defensive player of the year.

D.C. United midfielder Paul Arriola joins Swansea City on loan
For Arriola, the move caps a year of ups and downs. Arriola suffered a torn ACL just ten days after his 25th birthday and was expected to miss the 2020 season. It did not stop him from signing a contract extension with United in July that goes through 2023 with an option for 2024, and he rehabilitated his injury fast enough to eventually return for the last game of the season on November 8.

Orlando City Striker Daryl Dike Goes on Short-Term Loan to Barnsley in English Championship
Barnsley’s release states there’s an option to buy in the loan deal, but Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel reported that a league source indicated to her that the price tag is high — $20 million for 80% of his rights. Orlando would retain 20% of any sale by Barnsley, so if the English side did decide to go all-in on Dike, the Lions would reap a substantial financial windfall.

Spanish club Almería announces loan of LAFC’s Brian Rodriguez
In 2020, across all competitions, Rodriguez scored three goals and seven assists in 25 appearances, which are decent numbers but paled in comparison to the likes of LAFC’s other Designated Players, Rossi and Carlos Vela.

Rest of the World News

January transfer window: Grading every big signing from Europe’s top clubs
Though clubs spent nearly €1.5 billion less ($1.9bn) in the summer than they did the previous year, according to FIFA, a number of deals were agreed in October to be completed in January (see Jan. 2).