USMNT defender Auston Trusty moves to Sheffield United

The rise of Auston Trusty continues. 

Premier League clubs Arsenal and Sheffield United have completed the transfer of United States Men National Team center back Auston Trusty. Trusty, 24, joins the Blades for $6.4M on a four-year deal.

Trusty is coming off a suburb season with Championship side Birmingham City, where the defender made 44 appearances and was named Player of the Season by fans.

A stout physically imposing left-footed center back, Trusty came up through the Philadelphia Union academy, ultimately making his first-team debut in 2018. Trusty would make 62 appearances across two seasons for his boyhood club before a trade sent him to the Colorado Rapids. In Colorado, Trusty became a constant presence in the Rapids backline making 42 appearances before a shock move to Arsenal.

Trusty would never make an appearance for Arsenal, spending time back on loan with the Rapids and then a full season in the English second tier with Birmingham.

Stan Kroenke, head of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, owns both Arsenal and the Rapids and intended for the move to be a “relationship builder” with an eye towards future endeavors.

His impressive form in England led the 23-year-old to a selection for the USMNT’s Nations League roster, where he started his debut against Granada.

Trusty represents a brilliant piece of business for Kroenke’s teams. Initially purchased for $1.3M, Kroenke’s group made a quick $4M profit in a year by getting Trusty exposure in the English game.