Who are the Best Americans Who played for Chelsea?
Soccer is one of the most famous global sports, with the action in the world’s most popular competitions watched in all four corners.
However, there are few more international domestic leagues in the world of soccer than the Premier League, as England’s top-flight has housed some of the most iconic players from around the world throughout its history.
As one of the nation’s most successful teams, Chelsea have often looked to bring in players from overseas in order to make the difference, meaning that it is no surprise that they have fielded some talented Americans throughout their history.
But, which players rank as the best U.S. internationals to have played for the Blues?
Matt Miazga
Chelsea has a fine recent history of bringing through American players, and few had promised as much as Matt Miazga.
The Blues signed the central defender from New York Red Bulls in 2016 after the American impressed during his two-year stay in the Big Apple. It was reported that the Blues paid £3.5 million to sign the defender in January 2016, and he was included in the matchday squad at the start of February in a Champions League defeat against PSG.
Miazga was handed a first Premier League start in a 4-0 win at Aston Villa in April 2016, before starting the following match against Swansea City. However, his Blues career wouldn’t take off after that early promise, as he was later loaned out to Vitesse, Nantes, Reading, and Anderlecht, before moving back to the States in 2022 after signing for FC Cincinannti.
Christian Pulisic
Perhaps the most famous American to have donned the famous blue shirt of Chelsea comes in the form of Christian Pulisic. Nicknamed ‘Captain America’, the forward is widely regarded as one of the best North American players of all-time. After coming through the youth ranks in the U.S., he signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2015.
His potential was spotted at an early age, and he was quickly thrust into the first team in 2016. After three years in Germany, Chelsea signed the American in January 2019, with the deal worth £57.6 million seeing Pulisic become the most expensive North American player of all-time.
Pulisic made an immediate impression in England, scoring a ‘perfect’ hat-trick in a 4-2 away win at Burnley. His first season was a positive campaign, scoring eleven goals and providing ten assists. In his second season, he would form an important part of the team that would win the Champions League.
However, the American would be on the move in 2023 after signing for AC Milan. Since joining the Italian giants, the U.S. international has scored 32 games in 100 appearances across two seasons.
Gabriel Slonina
The only current American player registered to Chelsea is a native from Illinois, meaning that he could be tempted by the Illinois sportsbook promos on offer. Gabriel Slonina came through the youth ranks at Chicago Fire, and he made his breakthrough to the first team in 2021.
After making his debut, he became the youngest starting goalkeeper in MLS history, aged 17 years and 81 days. His potential was quickly picked up by Chelsea, who paid a reported $11 million for the goalkeeper in August 2022. He remains a highly-regarded prospect, and was the only goalkeeper featured in Goal’s NXGN list in 2023.
However, Slonina is yet to make a senior appearance for the Blues, and has been sent out on loan to Eupen and Barnsley in the last two seasons. But, he could feature as one of the back-up goalkeepers for the club heading into the 2025-26 season.
Catarina Macario
It isn’t just the men’s team that has benefitted from having American talent on the field, as a number of U.S. internationals have featured for the all-conquering women’s team in recent memory.
Among those include Catarina Macario, who signed for Chelsea in 2023 after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League during her time with Lyon. Macario has scored 13 goals in 47 appearances across her first two seasons with the Blues, and she has played an important role in helping the team win back-to-back Women’s Super League titles.
At international level, the midfielder has also achieved notable success, scoring eleven goals in 25 appearances. Macario was part of the U.S. team that won the bronze medal at the Olympics in 2021, and she is a three-time winner of the SheBelieves Cup.
Mia Fishel
Mia Fishel is another talented American that has been making waves in the WSL with Chelsea. The forward joined the Blues from Mexican side Tigres UANL in 2023, and has made 21 appearances across the last two seasons with the English club.
Like Macario, Fishel has been an important member of the team, which has won back-to-back editions of the WSL, as well as playing her role in FA Cup and League Cup successes.
