When all is said and done, Jozy Altidore will almost certainly hold the distinct privilege of holding two of the highest transfer fees ever recorded for a U.S. international. If his final sell price in this impending move from Alkmaar to Sunderland lands on the high side of the estimates, he will hold the two highest transfer prices.
Altidore already holds the top spot from that way-premature move into Spain from 2008.
The $10 million price tag that hung for a few years as an albatross on the young striker’s career isn’t looking so wildly out of whack all of the sudden, is it? Outrageously early, yes … but not completely out of line with Altidore’s upside.
It seems safe to say at this point that he still has a lot left – upside, that is. We’ll start to know for sure in about six weeks, assuming the dotting of “Is” and crossing of “Ts” all go without a hitch on this move into Sunderland, Altidore’s second EPL go-round.
No transfer price has been sourced, but estimates during the transfer back-and-forth recently have fallen anywhere between $5 million and $15 million as moves West in Europe to the Black Cats from Alkmaar, a big payday for the small Dutch club wherever it lands.
Here are some other high-profile transfers involving U.S. internationals:
Jozy Altidore, $10 million, Villarreal in 2008: Altidore was just 18 when this good Spanish club, perpetually striving to match Real Madrid and Barcelona, took a big e gamble. In a way, you could say Villarreal’s deciders were right all along about the U.S. striker – but were just way ahead of themselves. And everyone else. Because he never gained a bit of traction, just too young to establish himself at a higher level, and eventually left on a free transfer.
Clint Dempsey, $9.7 million, Tottenham in September of 2012: Dempsey may have eclipsed Altidore’s U.S. record but for the lost leverage; as the transfer window closed, and as the residue of a failed move to Liverpool left things stained, his market value surely suffered somewhat.
Clint Dempsey, $4 million, Fulham in 2007: What a bargain that was in retrospect, considering all the U.S. international did at Craven Cottage prior to his high-profile move across London to Tottenham 10 months ago.
Brek Shea, $4 million, Stoke City in 2013: Clearly, the jury is way out on this one. There’s a new sheriff in town at Stoke City, which is probably good news considering his lack of playing time before. Then again, it’s hard to say; Shea’s lack of action under the previous regime at the Britannia was really about injury recovery and long-term asset protection.
Tim Ream, $3.75 million, Bolton in January of 2012: The former New York Red Bull never made the move work for him in terms of gaining on the rungs of the national team ladder. On the other hand, he is carving out a nice-enough career in England with 28 games last year for Bolton.
Tim Howard, $3.3 million, Manchester United in 2003: He was probably a bit young to stand guard of Old Trafford goal, but anybody who doesn’t recognize how good the move was for Howard in the long run needs to turn in his U.S. Soccer supporters card. Immediately.
