Tottenham buy DeAndre Yedlin from Sounders

DeAndre Yedlin's breakout World Cup has landed him with Tottenham Hotspur. The United States right back has signed with the English Premier League club, which he will join next summer. Yedlin will finish the MLS season with the Sounders and likely start next season in Seattle, with Spurs saying he will start with them before the 2015/16 season.

Yedlin has been a hot commodity in Europe ever since he flashed his considerable talent at this summer's World Cup. Originally, he looked set to join a Serie A club, with AS Roma looking the most likely destination. That was true for several weeks, with the capital club reportedly battling Genoa for the American's signature, but then last week, Spurs came into the picture.

Tottenham got a long look at Yedlin when they were in Seattle to play the Sounders in a preseason friendly and not long after that trip, they made their move for the 21-year-old. They have made several signings since Mauricio Pochettino took over as manager, especially at the back, and Yedlin is the latest.

Yedlin will have a tough time getting into the Spurs team because of the presence of Kyle Walker. The Englishman is 24 years old and one of the league's better right backs. Spurs could make Yedlin a winger, something he could excel at in Pochettino's pressing system. They could also let him develop then give him the starting right back job, allowing them to sell Walker for a nice sum, or let him get better then flip him to another club for more than they paid for him.

Whether this is a smart move for Yedlin depends on Spurs' plans for him. If they plan to make him a winger, he could serve a purpose, but it would only be in a specific system and it would put a ceiling on his future, something that is not good for him or the U.S. If Tottenham's plan is to flip him, that could be dangerous too. But if Spurs see him as a potential replacement for Walker, then this could be a great move for the American, offering him the chance to become a fixture on a big Premier League club without ending up in over his head at one of the country's elite clubs.

Yedlin will get the rest of the season with the Sounders, which will be good for his development. He certainly can't displace Walker right now and getting more matches will allow him to grow. How long he stays with the Sounders is still to be determined. He will be there for the rest of the season, but he could stay there past January, likely going back to Seattle on loan. Spurs could also loan him to another English team.

Yedlin will not qualify for an automatic work permit, having not played in 75 percent of the U.S.' matches in the last two years, but he should have a very strong case on appeal. He has been a regular part of the team since getting his first cap, something that will presumably continue in the fall friendlies, and he played in three of the Americans' four World Cup matches. That should make getting a work permit fairly simple for the 21-year-old, allowing him to play for Spurs or any other team in the country.