Now that Brek Shea's long-rumored transfer to English Premier League club Stoke City is complete, let's take a look at what the move means for the 22-year-old winger and for the U.S. men's national team.
First off, it was pretty clear that Shea needed a change of scenery. The rangy Texan -- an MLS MVP finalist two years ago -- endured a nightmare 2012. He feuded with his coach at FC Dallas, was suspended for kicking a ball at an official and lost his starting job with Jurgen Klinsmann's Yanks. He also underwent foot surgery in November, forcing him out of consideration for the January Camp and next week's Hexagonal opener in Honduras.