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Five MLS players who may be next to move overseas

By Carson A Merk

Chelsea's US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea's US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea’s US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s US defender Matt Miazga warms up before the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on April 2, 2016. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images) /

Who will be the next MLS star to take their talents to a European league?

This off-season, when the New York Red Bulls transferred USMNT defender Matt Miazga to Premier League giant Chelsea, and Erik Palmer-Brown, who Juventus was rumored to have offered a 1 million dollar transfer fee to Sporting KC previously, loaned to Portuguese side Porto, it was a big deal for the MLS.

As the league continues to grow, commentators often say developing our young talent and being able to send them to upper echelon leagues like the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, etc., will be a huge sign of progression. It shows that the MLS is cultivating a product on the field that helps top young stars reach the talent level of top leagues overseas. As frustrating it is for fans of the American league to see their top young talent depart, it is vital to the overall health and growth of the league moving forward, to sustain long-term success.

More from MLS

Deandre Yedlin just finished playing a great stint out on loan with Sunderland from Tottenham. What USMNT teammate will follow his footsteps to a European league? Will a goalkeeper use the Tim Howard blueprint, departing MLS in his prime to showcase his talent in the EPL? Geoff Cameron left the Houston Dynamo for Stoke City in 2012, who will duplicate his departure and foreign league success?

*Fanendo Adi would be on the list, but reports he is having paperwork issues and may not be able to play in Europe, rumored Crystal Palace, made me choose these five instead, though Adi will likely be the first to leave the MLS. 

Here are five players who could be next to move on from the comforts of the MLS to the big shows overseas

Next: #5 Columbus' Wil Trapp

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