Freeman to Villarreal

Defender Makes the Move to Europe After Breakout Year With the National Team

Alex Freeman completed his move to La Liga side Villarreal on Thursday, signing a six-and-a-half-year contract that runs through June 2032 in a transfer worth up to $7 million from Orlando City.

The 21-year-old right-back joins the Spanish club following a breakout 2025 season that saw him transform from reserve player to one of Major League Soccer's premier young talents. Villarreal cited Freeman's physical power, attacking prowess, and impressive athletic qualities as key attributes, noting his versatility to operate in advanced positions from the right flank.

Freeman's remarkable rise included just three MLS appearances before 2025, but he secured Orlando's starting right-back position and never looked back. His stellar performances earned him MLS All-Star selection—becoming the youngest player ever chosen—a spot on the MLS Best XI, and the league's Young Player of the Year award. He finished the campaign with six goals and six assists across all competitions.

Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira praised Freeman's development: "He showed maturity and commitment at every level, rising from a young prospect to an MLS All-Star and one of the league's top emerging talents."

The Baltimore native, son of former Green Bay Packers receiver Antonio Freeman, also established himself internationally under manager Mauricio Pochettino. He earned 13 caps for the United States in 2025, highlighted by a brace against Uruguay in November that marked his first senior international goals.

Pochettino expressed confidence in the transfer, saying he had spoken with Freeman beforehand and emphasized supporting players who seek growth opportunities. Freeman appears well-positioned for World Cup selection, though maintaining form at fourth-placed Villarreal will prove crucial with the tournament just months away.

Trusty's Wild Week

Centerback Scored Again in Europe After a Domestic Red Card at the Weekend

Auston Trusty's crucial header secured Celtic's passage to the Europa League knockout play-offs as they held off a spirited Utrecht comeback to win 4-2 at Parkhead on Thursday.

The 27-year-old American defender delivered the decisive moment in the 66th minute, meeting Arne Engels' delivery with a glancing header that found the top-right corner. The goal restored Celtic's two-goal cushion after Utrecht had threatened to complete an unlikely comeback, having reduced a three-goal deficit to 3-2.

Celtic had raced to a commanding lead within 19 minutes—the third-earliest a Dutch side had trailed 3-0 in European competition history. However, Utrecht struck twice without reply, first through Dani de Wit's curling effort before halftime, then Adrian Blake's counter-attacking finish just after the hour mark, creating genuine anxiety around Celtic Park.

Trusty's intervention proved perfectly timed. Manager Martin O'Neill praised the defender's composure during what had become an increasingly nervy encounter, with Trusty completing the full 90 minutes and registering eight defensive contributions alongside his attacking heroics.

The goal marked a welcome moment of redemption for Trusty following a difficult week. He had faced criticism after receiving a controversial red card during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Hearts—a VAR-upgraded dismissal that Celtic unsuccessfully appealed—and had endured defensive struggles in the previous match against Bologna, where Celtic played over an hour with ten men, and Trusty notched his first goal of the season.

Celtic finished 21st in the 36-team standings, securing their knockout stage berth and setting up a play-off tie against either Ferencvaros or Stuttgart, with the first leg scheduled for Glasgow on February 19.

Tillman's Champions League Brace

Midfielder Scored Two Goals of Different Qualities in Victory Over Villarreal

Malik Tillman delivered a standout performance on Wednesday as Bayer Leverkusen secured its Champions League knockout stage berth with a commanding 3-0 victory over Villarreal. The 23-year-old United States midfielder netted twice, demonstrating both opportunism and technical prowess.

Tillman's opening goal came through clever anticipation in the 12th minute. Villarreal goalkeeper Arnau Tenas hesitated while attempting to clear a back pass, giving Tillman time to charge down and block the clearance. The ball deflected into the empty net as Tillman, mostly facing away from the goal while maintaining his balance, watched it cross the line. "In this situation, he's very clever," said Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand. "He reads the game very well. Malik's cleverness and intensity are something he's been working on."

His second goal showcased entirely different qualities. In the 35th minute, Tillman received a headed knockdown from Patrik Schick at the penalty area's edge and unleashed a fierce half-volley that thundered into the bottom-right corner, giving Tenas no chance.

The brace marked Tillman's second in Champions League competition, having previously achieved the feat for PSV against Shakhtar Donetsk last season. Remarkably, no other American player has scored multiple goals more than once in the tournament's history. Tillman's impressive display helped Leverkusen finish 16th in the standings, securing seeding for their playoff matchup against either Borussia Dortmund or Olympiakos. The performance bodes well for his expected role with the United States at this summer's World Cup.