After signing for Tottenham Hotspur back in August, DeAndre Yedlin has still only spent about 12 hours total in London as he continues to play for the Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer.
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The U.S. national team youngster, who dazzled everyone with his speedy cameo displays at the World Cup this summer, has a five-year contract signed and sealed with Premier League side Spurs lined up but confusion still reigns about exactly when he will make the move to England.
Yedlin, 21, is currently pushing ahead with plans to get a Latvian passport through bloodline on his mothers side which will prevent him from the tricky task of applying for a UK work permit. That route has become a lot tougher in recent months (Just as Juan Agudelo, who had his move to Stoke City in the PL halted after the UK home office refused to grant him a permit to play).
Speaking to MLSsoccer.com after the USA’s 1-1 draw with Ecuador on Friday, Yedlin had the following to say when asked about the timing of his move.“It depends on the situation. I think if I’m still playing a lot with Seattle then it’s something I have to think about, there’s no reason to have me go in,” Yedlin said. “Ultimately it comes down to [Tottenham manager Mauricio Pocchetino], what he wants. He’s making the decision on when I come.
“Obviously he has confidence in me, but these guys have experience at this level. It’s going to take me time to adjust. I’m not expecting to go in right away first day and start. So if I’m playing, there’s no reason to take me out of that environment.”
When announcing Yedlin’s move back in August, Spurs stated that he would join up with the team before the start of the 2015-16 season, which means Yedlin would likely remain in Seattle until May or June 2015. However with these details regarding a Latvian passport being pursued and Spurs’ injury concerns at right back growing as Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton are both out, is Yedlin set to arrive at White Hart Lane as early as this December when the 2014 MLS season is done?
ProSoccerTalk have contacted Tottenham to shed more light on the situation and they did not have anything else to add after Yedlin’s comments.