European teams eye San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell

San Jose Earthquakes’ Cade Cowell could be the next Major League Soccer player to head abroad. 

Several European teams are currently eyeing the forward as a possible summer transfer, after standout efforts in MLS and the US men’s national team. Newcastle and Bayern Munich expressed interest, but Serie A’s Milan and Juventus stand as frontrunners to land the player, sources confirm to 90min. 

But it won't be easy for the Italian teams, as Cowell remains a vital component of the Earthquakes. He also has two years left in his contract, signing a new deal in 2022 to extend through the 2025 campaign with an option for 2026.  

The American stands as a product of the San Jose Earthquakes academy, working through the youth teams before signing as a Homegrown player for the Western Conference side in 2019. He briefly went on loan with San Jose’s USL Championship affiliate club Reno 1868 that same year, gaining experience under head coach Ian Russell. Cowell finally made his Major League Soccer debut in 2020, coming off the bench in a 5-2 loss to Minnesota United. He has since managed nine goals and 12 assists in 81 appearances for the Earthquakes. 

Though the Quakes have seen a decline in form, concluding in the bottom half of the Western Conference table in recent years, Cowell’s individual talent propelled him towards an international career. 

The San Jose Earthquakes player can represent both the United States and Mexico, as an American citizen with family ties to Mexico. 

Up until now, the forward has only featured for the US men’s national team, working through youth levels before earning his first senior cap on January 25, 2023. Mexico has not yet called him up to a camp or friendlies. 

Though Cowell has featured for the American team before, he remains eligible to play for Mexico without applying for FIFA’s One Time Switch since the games were unofficial friendlies. But with Nations League matches coming up in March, commitment is on the horizon.