GOAL breaks down where PSV's four Americans stand after the trophy parade

With six games remaining, PSV were nine points back of Ajax in the Eredivisie. They'd led the Dutch top flight at one point by as much as nine points, but following Ricardo Pepi's injury in the winter, their form fell off a cliff. Heading into the final few matches of the season, a second consecutive title felt like an impossibility.

Yet, there they were on Monday, parading the league title around Eindhoven. It was a comeback or a collapse for the ages, depending on who you ask, and at the center of it all, all season long, were the club's four American stars.

Malik Tillman was spotted enjoying the celebrations, and he more than earned the right to do so. The U.S. men's national team midfielder was one of the Eredivisie's best all season long, calling into question just how long he'll actually be playing in the Dutch league.

Pepi's his injury didn't prevent him from soaking in a second title in as many seasons – well deserved considering he scored 11 league goals in 18 appearances. Same for Sergino Dest, who returned for the home stretch to help PSV's comeback for the title. And then there's Richy Ledezma, who deputized so admirably for Dest during his recovery that he, too, became a vital piece of the PSV puzzle.

Aside from Pepi, who continues to recover from his injury, the other three could be with the USMNT this summer. All four, meanwhile, are commanding discussions about their future. The 2024-25 season was more of the same for PSV: more success, more goals, and more winning. Heading into the 2025-26 season, though, it'll be interesting to see where the club's four Americans will be when it all gets going.

AFPMalik Tillman

Last fall, Tillman sat down with GOAL to reflect on his breakout season. He'd provided nine goals and 10 assists in his first season with PSV and, heading into the 2024-25 campaign, expectations were sky high.

"The move to PSV has been a great move for me," he said. "Last season, we had a great season as a team. Me individually? I would say it was my best season so far. To be fair, I haven't played a lot of seasons, but it was definitely a standout season for me. I think, more or less, it felt like a breakthrough season for me."

That breakthrough continued this season as Tillman eclipsed last season's goal total despite missing eight league games due to injury. While his assist numbers didn't come close to last season's haul, his 12 league goals were massive for PSV. He scored three goals and assisted another over the final two matchdays and six goals over the final 10, stepping up in the biggest moments to get his hands back on the title.

Tillman is a bonafied Eredivisie star. He led the league in through balls, finished sixth in goals, and was actually eighth in expected assists per 90, despite the drop off in that stat. Big clubs are certainly paying attention, but PSV won't let him go cheap, if he goes at all.

Reports say it will take €50 million ($56 million) to convince PSV to sell. Still, Tillman is one to keep an eye on after he conquered the Eredivisie this season for a second time.

AdvertisementAFPRicardo Pepi

Ricardo Pepi was American soccer's big story during the January transfer window. Amid a flurry of goals, a flurry of transfer interest headlined the January window. GOAL confirmed that PSV received a $26 million offer from West Ham, and they were only one of the clubs across Europe's top five leagues taking notice of the PSV striker.

"It's just like such a normal thing now," Pepi told GOAL in January when asked about transfer rumors. "You know if you're performing or if you're trying to get away for a loan or something like that, they'll be there. I think I've just made it a part of life already. That's the life that I live. Of course, there are going to be rumors of you going on, but at the same time, rumors can also affect your head a little bit. I just try to stay off, avoid distractions… If my agent doesn't tell me that there's a deal or that there's interest, I don't pay attention to it. I like to just keep things very compact in terms of information, so I can just focus on the main goal, which is performing on the pitch."

Things changed quickly, though. An injury during a Champions League clash sidelined Pepi for the rest of the season, ending any chance of a move. That injury, though, did not stop PSV from signing Pepi to a new contract, with player and club committing to one another going forward.

With that new contract in hand, Pepi will return in the fall as a man on a mission. Despite playing just 693 league minutes, Pepi finished eighth in the league in scoring with 11 goals. He was seemingly destined for the Golden Boot before that injury, but he'll get another crack at it next season. If that happens, the transfer interest won't be far behind as Pepi is already on everyone's radar heading into next season.

AFPSergino Dest

We never really saw the best of Sergino Dest this season, but fans of the USMNT will just be glad to see him back.

Dest tore his ACL in April 2024, putting him on a year-long road to recovery. PSV showed faith by giving him a contract even when he was out but, upon his return this spring, the club was also very cautious to protect their fullback's long-term future. Dest returned on March 8, playing 23 minutes against Heerenveen. After seeing his minutes limited throughout the final weeks of the season, Dest finally played a full 90 in the season finale, helping PSV clinch the league with that win over Sparta Rotterdam.

That's obviously good news for Dest, whose recovery was managed intelligently by PSV. It's also good news for the USMNT, who could end up throwing him right back into the XI for the Gold Cup. PSV, too, will benefit next season, as Dest's pure ability to influence a game from out wide will change the way other teams will have to defend the newly-crowned champions.

Getty ImagesRichy Ledezma

While Dest was out, PSV needed a solution at right back. They couldn't have found a better one than Ledezma.

An attacking midfielder turned fullback, Ledezma helped replicate some of Dest's playmaking abilities from that wide position. He started 21 league matches and appeared in a further three more, emerging as a crucial outlet for the club. He completed 92 percent of his passes, was a long-ball threat, and held his own defensively, finally carving out a role after several years out of the PSV first team.

Now, though, there are questions. Dest's return puts him in that right-back spot, leaving Ledezma needing a new path into the starting XI. Meanwhile, he's been heavily linked with Liga MX, which could indicate where those in his inner circle see him heading into next season. Ledezma, it should be noted, was also included on the USMNT's 60-man preliminary Gold Cup list.

Either way, while he faces an uncertain future, Ledezma played a bigger part for PSV than many could have expected, helping the club navigate a problem spot throughout the title-winning campaign.