An American in desperate need of a club has come home and signed to play in the US. Defender Heath Pearce has penned a deal with the MLS and was snapped up by top-of-the-allocation-list FC Dallas today; Pearce's move to the States follows a trying end to his European stint, which included a falling out with Hansa Rostock over "performance issues" (which include rumors of a faked injury), and a failed deal with Turkish side Bursapor.
Pearce's deal with FC Dallas is only for the remainder of the season; the guess here is that the defender will attempt to revive his European ambitions once the international transfer window opens again in January. Pearce is a contender for the American World Cup roster, of course, and so playing time is important. He certainly couldn't afford to sit out until the winter, both because of those World Cup ambitions, as well as his need to showcase himself to potential employers abroad.
Pearce, only twenty-five, is among other American internationals to sign with MLS in recent months after hitting a lull in Europe. Winger Bobby Convey joined San Jose in February, moving from England after being released by Reading. Danny Szetela returned to MLS and joined DC United, after FC Dallas on him passed despite having first right of refusal to sign him. Szetela has yet to make an impact with DC, and appears to be on the outs with head coach Tom Soehn.
Several other American players remain in limbo with their club situations, including National Team veteran DeMarcus Beasley (currently with Rangers) and U-20 midfielder Vincenzo Bernardo (unattached, last with Napoli).
What contribution Pearce can make to a club headed nowhere isn't exactly clear; he certainly adds quality to FCD's back line, though I'm not sure what that might get them. A stay of execution perhaps.
What do you make of Pearce's move to MLS? Who do you think the next American player to "come home" might be?
I wrote a piece back in February on Convey's move to MLS and the issue of Americans returning home that you can read here.
