The captain of the United States Olympic Soccer Team, Tanner Tessmann has left Venezia FC after helping the Italian side achieve promotion back into Italy’s elite Serie A. With one year left on his contract, the 22-year-old felt that the time was right to depart the Winged Lions, who are often relegation favorites, for Olympique Lyon who have been crowned French champions on seven occasions.
“Olympique Lyonnais is delighted to welcome Tanner Tessmann, who becomes the first American in history to wear the club’s jersey,” an OL spokesman said.
The deal , worth $7.8 million, comes despite the fact that the club has to raise $111 million by selling players in order to avoid fines and restrictions due to financial fair play violations.
Having made two appearances for the senior USA team, Tessmann now becomes the fourth American in Ligue 1, joining Emmanuel Sabbi at Le Havre, Caleb Wiley at Strasbourg, Folarin Balogun at Monaco and newly arrived Mark McKenzie at Toulouse.