Yankees In Europe: John Brooks Is Back & Tyler Adams Dishes A Pretty Assist

Yankees In Europe: John Brooks Is Back & Tyler Adams Dishes A Pretty Assist

This week, John Brooks headlined the list of performances by Americans competing in Europe's top football leagues.

Feb 18, 2019 by Graham Ruthven
Yankees In Europe: John Brooks Is Back & Tyler Adams Dishes A Pretty Assist

Another weekend of European soccer action, another series of performances by American talent. There has been a wave of Yankees making the move across the Atlantic in recent times and here are some of the best displays turned in over the weekend by Americans currently plying their trade in the big European leagues.

Tyler Adams | RB Leipzig

Tyler Adams has only played four games (three starts) for RB Leipzig since making the move from the New York Red Bulls, but the impact he has made in the Bundesliga has been profound. On Saturday, he turned in what was arguably his best performance yet, shining in a 3-1 away win over Stuttgart.



You may have seen the highlight reel moment of Adams’ performance—a no-look threaded pass after winning the ball in midfield that provided the perfect assist for Yussuf Poulsen to score Leipzig’s third goal, the goal that wrapped up the win—but the teenager was also impressive in providing his team with drive and energy through the middle. Adams continues to impress in Germany.

John Brooks | Wolfsburg

Many believe John Brooks to be American soccer’s predominant center back right now. However, Brooks and his Wolfsburg teammates were questionable in their previous game away to Freiburg, in which they conceded three. This was Brooks back to his best, though.

The 26-year-old was key as Wolfsburg claimed a comprehensive 3-0 home win over Mainz, keeping a clean sheet, making seven clearances, winning two-thirds of his tackles, three-quarters of his individual duels and completing three out of six long passes attempted. Brooks was rock solid at the back.

Matt Miazga | Reading

It had all been going so well for Matt Miazga. Since making the loan move to Reading, the American has played his part in a good run of form for the English Championship side, winning one and drawing three of his first four appearances for the Royals. It seemed that Miazga, after a dismal loan spell at Nantes, was turning his season around.

However, all this came crashing down in a heavy 0-4 loss to Sheffield United on Saturday. Of course, despite the nature of this defeat, Reading should feel no great embarrassment. Sheffield United are, after all, title contenders this season. But this was a tough day for Miazga, who made three clearances, one block, and one interception. It wasn’t enough.

Erik Palmer-Brown | NAC Breda

Just like Miazga, Erik Palmer-Brown suffered a difficult afternoon on Saturday. He was on the wrong end of a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Ajax, with the on-loan Manchester City defender scoring an own goal in the defeat. By full time, Palmer-Brown, and the rest of the NAC Breda squad, just wanted to go home.

The own goal was rather harsh on the 21-year-old. A defection from 18 yards out isn’t usually classed an own goal, but that’s how the officials saw this one. Nonetheless, Palmer-Brown was rag-dolled by an Ajax attack that included a rampant Hakim Ziyech. This was always likely to be a tough task, and so it proved for the American defender still trying to find his way in Europe.

Timothy Weah | Celtic

Not for the first time, Timothy Weah—or “Timo” Weah as he’s now known in Scotland—was introduced off the bench by Brendan Rodgers with the intention of making a late breakthrough for Celtic. At the time of his entry, the Scottish champions were struggling to break down a stubborn Kilmarnock defence. And not for the first time, Weah made a difference.

His impact off the bench wasn’t quite as significant as was the case away to St Johnstone two weeks ago, but the teenager gave Celtic some much-needed trickery and invention when they needed it most. With Weah on the pitch, Scott Brown scored what proved to be the winner, a goal that put Celtic six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It was a landmark moment in the Scottish season and Weah played his part.


Graham Ruthven is a soccer writer based in the U.K. He has written for the New York Times, Guardian, Eurosport, Bleacher Report, and others.