Championship adds another American prospect in Luca Bombino, with Stoke City to be the benificiary
Middlesbrough might be the new USMNT hub in Europe, but it seems some clubs might want to take a page out of their book.
Enter Stoke City, who just completed a transfer for San Diego FC left-back Luca Bombino. The former United States youth talent, who was part of the American contingent that took part in the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, will join Stoke City after serving as a key member of San Diego FC's inaugural lineup.
Through 43 appearances with the California-based club, Bombino scored two goals while adding five assists. He also added a helper during the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, which saw San Diego FC make it all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
Stoke City gets extra defensive reinforcement and energy as Championship season kicks off ...
To say that Stoke City needs defense is a bit of an understatement in itself.
Stoke City has won just one of their opening five competitive fixtures, a run of form that includes an exit from the EFL Cup after a loss to Hull City in the second round. They've also lost each of their opening three Championship matches while giving up a combined nine goals over that span of fixtures. Their most recent league defeat - a 4-1 decision at the hands of Wolves - has them in dead last in the Championship table on goal difference. The gap to the playoff positions (third to eighth) is already five points.
It remains to be seen when Bombino will make his debut, but the club will need to hope he can provide some energy quickly. After a mid-week home game against Norwich City, they'll take on a Charlton side that has won each of their opening three fixtures.
... but the impact of the transfer on the USMNT is unclear
While Stoke City could very well use a new defender, it remains to be seen how the transfer changes the landscape at the USMNT.
After all, Fulham left-back Antonee Robinson is certainly poised to maintain the national team's top spot in that position, at least for this upcoming international break. Behind him is Middlesbrough left-back Max Arfsten, who now has the advantage of playing with American teammates Sebastian Berhalter, Rokas Pukstas, and Aidan Morris during the Championship campaign.
Given Robinson's experience and the Middlesbrough situation, it's easy to conclude that Bombino might not get a call during the upcoming September/October international window. But Stoke City will host Middlesbrough in Championship play on October 13, just one week after the USMNT plays against cross-border rivals Canada. If Bombino gets off to a confident start at Stoke City and he can outperform Arfsten and Co in mid-October, then there could be a road for Bombino to join the national team ahead of their Nations League campaign.
But for now, it's Robinson and Arfsten who lead the way at left-back.
