WASHINGTON – DeAndre Yedlin could only watch from afar and wait as his destiny, for the 2015-16 season at least, flitted and floated heading into the final day of the international transfer window on Tuesday.
Linked for weeks with an array of interested loan suitors from Denmark, Italy, Spain, Belgium as well as English options closer to home, Yedlin jetted across the Atlantic to join the US national team over the weekend with little in the way of clear conclusions from his superiors at Tottenham Hotspur. So even after months of unsettling uncertainty, he found himself in a similar situation to the average fan as the breathless insanity of “Deadline Day” unfolded on television screens around the world.
“Definitely, this last month has been tough,” Yedlin told reporters at Wednesday's USMNT training session at American University in Northwest D.C. “It's been pretty stressful, because so many different teams have come up and then gone. And a lot of it is out of my control.”
When a year-long loan deal with English Premier League stragglers Sunderland finally solidified, the Seattle Sounders product was less concerned about the Black Cats' place in the standings (20th, meaning: rock-bottom) and his countryman Jozy Altidore's rough (meaning: nightmarish) recent stint on Wearside.
“I'm relieved that it's over,” he said. “I woke up, my agent texted and said call me as soon as you can. He said, 'I think Sunderland may be a go. We're just waiting for the confirmation from the Tottenham chairman. He confirmed it, sent documents over, and I signed and went to training.
“The biggest thing between this at this time and choosing between Tottenham and whatever teams last year was, with that [transfer] I had a little bit of a choice. This, I really have no say – I mean, I have some sort of say, but not a whole ton,” Yedlin continued. “But I'm glad where I ended up, and I'm hoping I can make the most out of it.”
Though both Altidore and retired USMNT legend Claudio Reyna spoke highly to him of their past experiences at Sunderland, Yedlin simply wanted resolution above all – and a fair shot at the first-team minutes that have been so elusive at Spurs since his arrival in January.
“Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to get playing time, and get back in the groove of playing. I'm looking forward to it,” he said. “Obviously they're a little bit lower on the table. And all parties that were involved felt it was a good place for me to go. Felt like it was right.
“I feel like I can relax a little bit now, knowing that when I go back, I know where I'm going.”
Challenges and opportunities await in equal measure at the Stadium of Light. Since Altidore's winter departure, respected Dutch manager Dick Advocaat – who also helped groom USMNTer Aron Johannsson at AZ Alkmaar – has taken the reins on a permanent basis, though relegation fears look likely to stalk the side again this season. The Black Cats have already conceded an EPL-worst 10 goals in four winless matches to start the year, and Yedlin is one of eight new transfer-window acquisitions seeking to break into the regular rotation. The Seattle native says he's glad to be staying in the English top flight, though.
“That's huge,” he said. “It's a league that you really have to get used to. If you're coming from another one, it's a tough league. Getting the experience of playing in a Premier League team and just getting, hopefully, consistent games, will be huge for me.”
Yedlin claims to have no clue whether Advocaat will consider him for midfield as well as defensive work, and simply wants to continue the personal and professional development that he's experienced – even with scant playing time – in England thus far.
“I grew off the field as well,” he said. “I've had to live by myself in a different country. I know they speak the language, but it's a lot different living there. I finally feel settled and just feel like I've improved – on the field but also off the field as well. I'm ready for this next challenge.”
