The highly-regarded young left back appears to be on his way to Germany, with agreement over his transfer fee
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Red Bulls, Holstein Kiel agree to $3M fee for TolkinTolkin helped lead New York to MLS Cup 2024Has four caps for USMNTFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
New York Red Bulls star and U.S. international John Tolkin appears to be close to finalizing a long-awaited move to Europe. The Red Bulls and German Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel have reportedly agreed to a $3 million transfer, which will include sell-on for the MLS club.
Tolkin is one of MLS's brightest young stars, shining at left back for four seasons. His strongest statistical season might have come in 2023, where he had three goals and six assists in league action. Last year, he was part of the core that helped lead New York to the MLS Cup, narrowly losing to the LA Galaxy.
Tolkin, who came through the Red Bulls academy, is also a U.S. international with four caps and is currently at Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT January camp.
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A Tolkin move to Europe has been long speculated, and Holstein Kiel reportedly went in for the player last summer but were rejected due to timing. There was a sense of finality after the Red Bulls' playoff run this past season. There were multiple reports of a move and even team star Emil Forsberg appeared resigned to losing the talented fullback.
"Yeah, if he were to leave, we will see then, but he's been fantastic for us a long time," Forserg told GOAL at MLS Media Day. "So if he goes, he deserves the chance to go. If he stays, we're more than happy to have him, because he's a fantastic soccer player."
If the move to the Bundesliga goes through, it will likely help his chances of becoming a regular call-up for the USMNT. Fulham's star left back Antonee Robinson is locked in the starter role, but he has no clear understudy. Tolkin showed strong potential during his time with the U.S. Olympic Team last summer.
DID YOU KNOW?
Tolkin made his first MLS appearance in 2021, coming on as a substitute in the Red Bulls 2-0 win against Toronto FC on May 8.
WHAT NEXT FOR TOLKIN?
Tolkin and his representatives are continuing to iron out the deal. If it goes through, he will join a side that is battling relegation as Holstein sit 17th out of 18 teams in the Bundesliga. Still, he will be encouraged by the team's stunning upset over fellow American Gio Reyna's Dortmund on Tuesday.
