Chelsea defender Matt Miazga has joined FC Cincinnati in a transfer that ends his six-year stay in west London.
The 27-year-old played just two senior games over his career at Stamford Bridge, which consisted of five loan spells away from the club at Vitesse, Reading, Nantes, Anderlecht and Alaves.
A return to Major League Soccer (MLS) is now secured for the United States international, with the deal completed on the August 5 transfer deadline across the Atlantic.
“I’m really excited to join FC Cincinnati,” said Miazga. “It’s a pleasure to be back in the United States and be able to compete in MLS again.
“The project here in Cincinnati is something that has drawn me here, and I want to say a special thank you to Jeff Berding, Chris Albright and Pat Noonan, who were all a big part of me coming to FCC. I can’t wait to meet all the amazing supporters, who I’ve heard so many good things about, at TQL stadium.”
Miazga returns home in a bid to play regular first-team football and make the US men’s national team squad for the winter World Cup in Qatar. The USMNT are in a group with England, Wales and Iran.
If a deal with FC Cincinnati had fallen through, there was also interest in the player from clubs in the Championship and from Belgium.
There remains a huge need for Chelsea to resolve the futures of many of their fringe players including Baba Rahman, Billy Gilmour, Emerson Palmieri, Michy Batshuayi and Ross Barkley.
