Tyler Boyd completes one-time switch to join USMNT

The United States Men’s National Team added another player to the player pool this morning, as the federation announced that Tyler Boyd had been approved by FIFA for a one-time switch from New Zealand to the United States. The 24-year-old left winger had represented the All Whites at the youth and senior international levels, but now will be eligible to play for the USMNT going forward.

Boyd was born in New Zealand, but spent time as a child in California before returning to New Zealand. He began his career with Melville United in New Zealand before moving to Waikato FC and later to the Wellington Phoenix of the Hyundai A-League. He then left for Portugal, landing with Vitória de Guimarães of the Primeira Liga. He is currently on loan with MKE Ankaragücü of the Super Lïg in Turkey, where he has 5 goals and 4 assists in 13 matches, all of them starts.

For New Zealand, he appeared 9 times for the New Zealand U-20s, scoring 1 goal and adding 3 assists. He also appeared in 5 friendlies for the New Zealand men’s national team, all back in 2014. Because he didn’t appear in an official competition for the senior Kiwi side, he was eligible to join the USMNT. It was his appearance in youth international competitions for the New Zealand U-20s (the 2013 Oceania U-20 Championship and the 2013 U-20 World Cup) that required the filing of the one-time switch that was approved by FIFA.

Boyd joins a USMNT player pool that lacks depth at the left wing spot. It remains to be seen whether he gets selected to join the USMNT for this summer’s Gold Cup, but he has a chance to get some looks from USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter. Adding a player of quality to the pool only makes the competition to be one of the 23 players on the Gold Cup roster more intense.