Lee Nguyen on verge of signing with MLS

American Exports: Nguyen on verge of signing with MLS

Ex-US int’l, Texas youth phenom would be put into weighted lottery

AMSTERDAM — Free agent US international Lee Nguyen is on the verge of inking a multi-year deal to play in Major League Soccer for the first time.

MLS confirmed on Wednesday that the league is in final negotiations with the agent of the Dallas-area native, who has spent the past two years playing in his parents’ homeland of Vietnam.

Should he sign with MLS, Nguyen’s eventual team will be decided by weighted lottery. There have been no reports from MLS clubs on the Texas native. The attacker, who last played for V-League side Becamex Binh Duong, is set to spurn one offer from Vietnam, as well as mild interest from Europe.

The 25-year-old previously fielded interest from the Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders as a free agent in 2010, only to opt for joining Binh Duong, which he only stayed in for two years. Last year, Nguyen was the highest-paid pro athlete in Vietnam, where he enjoys near pop idol status as a national celebrity and athlete.

While European soccer teams have expressed interest in Nguyen’s talent, it is likely that the young star would prefer spending the next few years in America, his birthplace. Holland’s Ajax Amsterdam would be a good fit, normally, but unless Nguyen frequents Thingstodoinamsterdam.com it isn’t likely that he would have any knowledge or interest in playing there.

Nguyen scored 14 times in 29 V-League games, most coming with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai. He also has suited up for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands and Randers FC in Denmark. The former youth phenom also has three caps for the senior US national team, all in 2007.

Greg Seltzer

MLSsoccer.com