Chelsea‘s American goalkeeper Gaga Slonina is heading to Barnsley on mortgage and might be climbing a step nearer to being prepared for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Slonina, 20, shall be becoming a member of the League One aspect in pursuit of promotion again to the Championship.
They got here shut final season shedding to Bolton Wanderers within the first spherical of the League One playoffs and Slonina may also have one other American there with him in middle again Donovan Pines. Slonina spent final season on mortgage with Eupen within the Belgian prime flight after becoming a member of Chelsea from the Chicago Hearth in Main League Soccer. He spoke with CBS Sports activities to debate his subsequent transfer.
“I feel it will be a extremely good expertise for me to be right here for the season and to expertise the English leagues constructing my manner up step-by-step,” mentioned Slonina, in an interview with CBS Sports activities Golazo Community — which you’ll be able to watch right here. “I feel it will be good for me to get the sport expertise and assist this crew get to the Championship.”
This weekend the Championship and the remainder of the English Soccer League motion kicks off because the journey to the richest recreation in sport begins, and you may catch the motion on Paramount+, CBS Sports activities Golazo Community and CBS Sports activities Community all season lengthy.
Slonina made 34 appearances with Eupen final season and in addition made his debut for the USA males’s nationwide crew, however there’s room for enchancment. Whereas Slonina was the beginning keeper for the USA on the U-20 World Cup, Columbus Crew keeper Patrick Schulte obtained the nod for the USA on the Olympic Video games in Paris.
He’ll get loads of match expertise for Barnsley as League One groups play 46 video games per season. Taking part in these with the stress of promotion on the road will solely be a superb expertise for the younger keeper as he grows.
“Getting all these video games at Eupen was a stepping stone for coming right here,” Slonina mentioned.
Coming from MLS, Eupen is sweet development to Europe prior to now getting expertise in England. The adjustment from the tempo of play in MLS could be robust for gamers so having the ability to take issues in levels at such a younger age helps put together Slonina, however he additionally welcomes the stress.
“Taking part in for the USA is at all times an honor and attending to signify the nation and make my household proud is superb so particularly now, this season goes to be essential for me to play effectively,” Slonina mentioned. “In order that’s an added degree of stress which I feel is essential. So attending to play for the USMNT is at all times a objective of mine.”
The Morning Footy crew requested Slonina about how he felt that CBS Sports activities analyst and former United States worldwide Tony Meola thinks that he’ll be the beginning keeper on the World Cup in 2026 as present starter Matt Turner has struggled for constant membership minutes.
“I do know Tony Meola from the time I used to be enjoying in Chicago, he was commentating on our video games, so to listen to that from him, it does not add stress to me,” Slonina mentioned concerning the excessive reward. “I feel that is a degree of motivation for me to reside as much as that and show him proper and anybody who does not suppose that, show them improper. In order that’s clearly the objective to be the beginning goalkeeper for the 2026 World Cup.”
Mindset is essential and whereas this might not be a Premier League transfer for Slonina, it’s a transfer that can assist put together him for greater days forward. League One is a spot the place he’ll face a ton of pictures and be anticipated to assist Barnsley preserve as many clear sheets as doable. Try this, and contemplating the dearth of enjoying time of USMNT, a beginning function on the senior nationwide crew might come sooner reasonably than later.
