Michael Bradley's sudden transfer from AS Roma in Serie A to Toronto FC of Major League Soccer surprised everyone in the American footballing landscape. 

Bradley's move is one that mirrors Clint Dempsey's transfer to Seattle from Tottenham Hotspur during the summer, as the MLS team receiving the United States men's national team star splashed a pretty large sum of cash for the player.

Now that the reality of Bradley donning the red and white of TFC is upon us, it is time to look at what the move means for the United States when the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June.

The instant reaction to the Bradley transfer is that the 26-year-old is moving to one of the bottom feeders of the league, which is a correct statement if you only look at the 2013 Eastern Conference standings. 

The Reds lacked talent at close to every position in manager Ryan Nelsen's first season and they had to rebuild with new talent.

Rebuild is exactly what Toronto did, as they acquired the services of MLS veteran Dwayne De Rosario, who on his best day is one of the best playmakers in the entire league. 

Although he is 35, De Rosario will have an immediate impact on the Toronto attack that will officially feature Tottenham Hotspur forward Jermain Defoe in a few days' time. 

With the duo of De Rosario and Defoe, as well as new signing Gilberto, playing in front of him in the Toronto attack, Bradley will have plenty of quality to feed from his defensive midfield position. 

Having playmakers around him is a very good thing for Bradley, who is more of a distributor in the midfield than a consistent scorer. If was asked, though, he would probably attempt that role as well given his work ethic and pride in his game. 

When he takes to the pitch for the Yanks this summer, Bradley will also have plenty of playmakers in front of him, with the likes of Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore and Dempsey leading the American front line.

While we can sit here and debate how the abilities of Bradley's teammates at the club and international level stack up against one another, it is easier to be happy to see that he will actually be playing with other world-class talents on a consistent basis. 

Consistency is another thing Bradley is searching for as he prepares for the quest to South America that has the Americans pitted up against Ghana, Portugal and Germany in group play. 

This season at Roma, Bradley started just five matches and appeared as a substitute on six occasions. That is simply not enough game time for the midfielder to be in the best form of his life heading into Brazil. 

When he arrives in Ontario, the 26-year-old will be the first name on Nelsen's team sheet for every single match as long as he is fit. 

One other thing that the move back to MLS creates for Bradley is the pressure to succeed. He is being brought into Toronto alongside the likes of De Rosario and Defoe to rescue the Reds from their less than spectacular history and pack BMO Field—one of the best venues in the league—once again. 

Bradley should thrive under the pressure of being the main man north of the border, which will prepare him for the same role in Brazil.

As we have seen with our own eyes over the last 12 months, Bradley is the best American player and means more to the team when he is on the pitch than Dempsey or Donovan. 

By becoming the man in Toronto and having a few playmakers at his disposal, Bradley will be able to prepare for the World Cup just fine, but it will take some time for a certain part of the American fanbase to realize that this move was the correct one for American success in Brazil.

Follow me on Twitter @JTansey90.

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On the list of relevant drafts in United States' sports, the MLS draft is pretty far down the ranks. Often, the league's top players are signed from different professional leagues, while many of the top stars are already playing for clubs in Europe.

Still, every now and again an excellent player comes through the ranks, and the draft is a great way for teams to build quality depth or round out their rosters.

Let's take a look at how this year's draft will shake out.

1. D.C. United: Steve Birnbaum, CB, California

It's pretty widely believed that the first pick for D.C. United will come down to Birnbaum or his teammate Christian Dean.

Ives Galarcep of Soccer by Ives breaks down why he believes D.C. will go with Birnbaum.

Birnbaum is the better player right now and D.C. United is said not to rate Dean as highly as other teams do. D.C. United could choose to trade down and gather assets rather than be the first team in a decade to not use the No. 1 overall pick on a Generation adidas player. If a team trades up, the chances are very high that it would be to grab Dean.

D.C. United could also choose to go with a forward at this pick, but it will be hard for the team to pass on a solid, MLS-ready centre-back like Birnbaum. He's certainly the safe pick at No. 1.

2. Philadelphia Union: Christian Dean, CB, California

Also possessing the No. 6 pick—and with plenty of needs to fill—the Union have the luxury to simply take the best player on the board. That player is widely believed to be Dean. His size and athleticism make him a very intriguing prospect, and it's possible teams will try to trade up to pick him with the top overall selection.

Plus, he can likely slot in at left-back if called upon to do so. If he falls to the Union, expect the team to snatch him up.

3. Vancouver Whitecaps: Andre Blake, GK, UConn

He's easily the top keeper in this draft, and he's one of the best players, period. The only other player the Whitecaps have on the roster at the position is David Ousted.

The Whitecaps can afford to allow Blake to adjust to the MLS game slowly behind Ousted before the incumbent is, well, ousted by Blake in the future.

4. Columbus Crew: Schillo Tshuma, F, Maryland

It seems like a pretty safe bet that the Crew will go with a forward here, and it seems just as likely that Tshuma and Cyle Larin will be off the board in the next two picks. Tshuma's speed and upside will make him tough to pass up.

5. FC Dallas: Cyle Larin, F, UConn

Larin is another upside pick, but he has the look of a player who will develop into a very nice forward in MLS. However, Ives Galarcep reported on Jan. 8 there is a chance Larin stays at UConn:

Latest update on UConn striker Cyle Larin: He's waiting on better offer from MLS, may stay in school. Would be a shame. He's a Top 5 talent

He's raw, sure, but after going defensive in the past five drafts, FC Dallas can afford to gamble on the future prospects of this talented forward should he be available.

6. Philadelphia Union: Patrick Mullins, F/MF, Maryland

Mullins is as talented as any player in this draft, but two things count against him: He doesn't have a true position, and drafting him will also count against the cap since he isn't a Generation adidas player.

Nonetheless, if the Union continue to play three at the top, Mullins could fit in as either a forward or at left wing. He's probably best served as an attacking mid, but he has the talent to be given a look at several positions.

After also nabbing Dean, the Union can make a strong argument that they came away with the top two talents in this year's draft.

7. Vancouver Whitecaps: Eric Miller, RB, Creighton

With Lee Young-Pyo retiring this season, Miller would instantly fill a need. The team will also likely look for a veteran replacement, but Miller—at worst—is a player who could be groomed to take over on a full-time basis in seasons to come.

8. Chicago Fire: Marlon Hairston, MF, Louisville

Some folks believe the Fire will look to bolster the defense; others think they would be better suited to add midfield depth. There's one thing everyone agrees on: Hairston is a heck of a player and will be a solid pick no matter where he is selected.

9. San Jose Earthquakes: AJ Cochran, CB, Wisconsin

San Jose needs to solidify the defense. Cochran is the best player available to do just that. Case closed.

10. Montreal Impact: Kevin Cope, CB, Michigan State

The run on centre-backs continues. The Impact clearly need to improve on defense, and Cope is the best player on the board in a draft chock full of defensive talents.

11. Colorado Rapids: Pedro Ribeiro, MF, Coastal Carolina

An attacking midfielder might not be a big need for Colorado, but on the flip side, this team doesn't really have a ton of pressing needs. They can afford to go with the best available player, and Ribeiro's ability to facilitate the attack makes him a very alluring prospect.

12. New England Revolution: Steve Neumann, F/MF, Georgetown

If the Union don't select Neumann, it's very possible he could slip to the Revolution. A hugely talented player who has the stats to back up that assertion (41 goals and 34 assists in 86 college starts), Neumann could drop simply because he doesn't have a clear position.

He'll likely be most effective if he's allowed to play behind a central striker and poach goals. If he's asked to lead the line, it's harder to see him being as effective.

13. Seattle Sounders: JJ Koval, M, Stanford

Trying to predict what Seattle will do in any given draft is a crapshoot since the team famously ignores needs and simply takes the best player available. On this board, Koval is the top man standing. That's analysis, folks.

14. LA Galaxy: Jared Watts, MF, Wake Forest

The Galaxy aren't drafting a player to help immediately, but rather one that can provide some depth. Midfield depth seems to be a priority, and Watts makes sense over Luca Gimenez (he would require an international spot). Joey Dillon would also make sense.

15. Toronto FC: Grant Van De Casteele, CB, Notre Dame

The consensus out there seems to be that Toronto will target defensive depth with this selection. Rather than gamble on the potential but uncertainty of Kyle Venter, Toronto will turn to a known commodity in Van De Casteele, who was the captain of Notre Dame's championship-winning team.

16. Houston Dynamo: Kyle Venter, CB, New Mexico

The Dynamo definitely need to add depth defensively, and this is certainly the draft in which to do so. They can afford to take a chance on Venter, who could develop into one of the best centre-backs in this draft. At the 16th pick, he's hardly a risk.

17. Portland Timbers: Aodhan Quinn, F, Akron

He plays a position of need (forward), he's a talented player who is coming off a great season and, oh yeah, Caleb Porter is Akron's former coach. This has long been the popular pick for Portland.

18. Real Salt Lake: Ben Sweat, LB, South Florida

Real Salt Lake needs depth at left-back, and Sweat is the best available player at the position. This is an obvious fit.

19. New England Revolution: Mamadou Doudou Diouf, F, UConn

The Revolution could very well go the route of taking the most talented forward available, and Diouf fits the bill. Lanky yet physical, Diouf had a poor 2013 but has shown the potential to put plenty of goals on the scoresheet. He's a bit of a project pick, but aren't they all this late in the draft?

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Major League Soccer has landed yet another American superstar. 

A little more than five months after the Seattle Sounders agreed to terms with Clint Dempsey, who is now back with EPL side Fulham on a two-month loan, Toronto FC has agreed to terms with Roma's Michael Bradley, according to ESPN's Doug McIntyre:

Joe Prince-Wright confirmed the news on Thursday, and his former squad AS Roma wished him farewell:  

The Fox Soccer Twitter account provides the financial details of the deal:

Bradley, who is in the prime of his career at 26 years of age, has fallen out of favor with his Serie A side this season, appearing in just 11 matches (five starts) and scoring one goal.    

He is currently in his second season with Roma after spending a year with Italian side Chievo and several more with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga. He also made a few appearances with EPL club Aston Villa on a loan during the 2010-11 campaign. 

Bradley isn't a true goal-scoring threat, although he has a tendency to send in some world-class efforts from time to time. Exhibit A:

But while he doesn't find the back of the net as much as fellow American midfielders Dempsey or Landon Donovan, an argument can be made that Bradley is the Yanks' best overall player—or at least the most important. 

Playing the crucial central midfielder role, his ability as a playmaker to string together passes both long and short is unrivaled. According to WhoScored.com, he leads Roma (not counting Federico Ricci, who has made two appearances) in successful pass percentage at a staggering 91.9 this season. 

Bradley makes everyone around him better.

Because he possesses so much talent, though, many supporters, such as Andy Glockner, wouldn't want to see him spurn Europe—where he could still start for many clubs—for North America just five months prior to the World Cup:

It's likely that Jurgen Klinsmann agrees. 

Nevertheless, if the reports are true, this is unquestionably a massive signing for both Toronto, which finished near the bottom of the East last season, and MLS, an increasingly talent-filled league that now boasts the top three American players. 

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Toronto FC have got a big announcement in the pipeline, and apparently they want the whole world to know it.

On Wednesday, the MLS club released a video promo touting a club announcement on January 14, proclaiming it "a bloody big deal."

Couple the unmistakably British phrase with the video's content—a typical "geezer" in what appears to be a London cafe (no accent), spitting out his mug of tea in surprise—and it is difficult to escape the conclusion that this video is touting the signing of Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, who has long been linked with the Canadian club.

Considering that the deal has been discussed in papers and media outlets on both sides of the Atlantic for a number of months now, whether anyone will be as surprised as the bloke in the video when the announcement is finally made official remains to be seen.

Can confirm Jermain Defoe is expected to arrive in Canada this weekend to complete his transfer to @torontofc from Tottenham #MLS

Defoe is believed to be heading to Toronto this weekend, ahead of the "mystery" announcement on Monday.

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Whether it's a move abroad, or a move within Major League Soccer, the 2014 MLS season will no doubt have its fair share of transfers.

Some will be seeking better opportunities or pay in Europe, some will be trying to return home and some will involuntarily be forced to switch teams.

Here are eight MLS players primed for a move in 2014.

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Major League Soccer continues to grow year after year, but it still struggles to both develop and then keep promising young talent.

Still, 2013 was a great year for the league's youngsters, producing a great crop who can take the league forward heading in the 2014 season.

Trying to identify such players can be difficult because at such a young age, their consistency can vary wildly. 

To become the type of players who can build the league's reputation, they must have that rare combination of talent and flair. They are also far more likely to be attacking players because, after all, the average fan has a much greater appreciation for attacking play than for great defense.

Here are 10 young guns who aren't on most fans' radars, but could be the next big thing in MLS.

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When David Beckham first came to Major League Soccer in 2007, one of the lesser known clauses of his reported $250 million mega-contract was a provision to buy a future MLS franchise for $25 million.

Expansion in MLS has been a hot topic in recent months and in 2013, the league added two new franchises, New York FC and Orlando City SC. Both teams are set to enter the league in the 2015 season and will bring the size of the league to 21 teams (MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated the goal of the league is 24 teams by 2020).

By contrast, Beckham’s $25 million franchise buy-in clause will be a major bargain as New York’s investors were forced to cough up a $100 million franchise fee and Orlando’s investors paid $70 million to get their team into the league.

Current plans have Beckham bringing a franchise to Miami with Atlanta and possibly Minnesota rounding out the remaining cities to get the league to 24 teams.

With Garber stating that the bids in Miami and Atlanta are “making progress,” what would a David Beckham-owned franchise mean for the league?

The Beckham Experiment, Part 2

In 2007, Major League Soccer adopted the Designated Player Rule, which came to be known as the Beckham Rule.

The rule allows MLS squads to sign high-profile players outside the normal restrictions of the MLS salary cap. Without the rule, the league, and the L.A. Galaxy, would have never been able to sign Beckham as a player.

When he came to MLS, Beckham brought instant exposure to the fledging league. In 2007, there were only 13 MLS franchises, total league attendance was about half of what it is today and many teams played in stadiums designed for NFL teams.

The league had survived its darkest days—the contraction of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and Miami Fusion in 2002 took the league down to 10 teams—but it still struggled for relevance on any level.

Beckham brought that relevance in 2007 simply by his presence, and as an owner, he has the power to take the league to another level again.

Beckham himself is an international media star and recent reports have his ownership group potentially including Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Kobe Bryant, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jack Nicholson, Eva Longoria and LeBron James. The sheer star power of that group is enough alone to bring interest to the franchise.

But while the presence of Beckham and his possible contingent of star investors would draw interest, once the novelty of that star power subsides, the team would need to put a quality product on the field. After all, how many people come out to a game to see the owner?

The real power of Beckham as an MLS owner would be his ability to bring star players to the league. Like it or not, Major League Soccer is still largely based on stars from abroad and Beckham will have the money and force of personality to lure top European stars to America. Top-level players have the ability to bring out the crowds, both home and away, and will no doubt be a boost to the league.

The Ghosts of the Fusion

One of the big questions MLS must consider when thinking about expansion into South Florida is whether or not a franchise can survive there.

Both of the franchises MLS contracted in 2002 (the Miami Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny) were based in Florida and even though that was over a decade ago and much has changed, the struggles and near failure of the league during that time period still haunt MLS fans and league executives today.

When the Fusion were contracted, Fusion owner Ken Horowitz said the decision was based on the fact that “We've come to the conclusion that the South Florida market just has too many hurdles that we simply cannot overcome…The reality is that South Florida is a very difficult sports market.”

Horowitz cited a number of reasons for this including the fact that many Miami residents were originally not from Miami and didn’t identify with local sports teams. He also claimed Miami suffered from problems of heat and rain in the Miami summer, lack of corporate support and lack of fan interest in the team.

However, a supporter's group dedicated to MLS' return to Miami, Southern Legion, believes that the time is right to give Miami another chance and that Beckham is the perfect man to lead the effort.

Ed Serrano, the Vice-President of Southern Legion, told B/R "Having David Beckham as an owner of a Miami MLS team ensures this team will be successful on and off the pitch. Beckham will also attract top players. [He] is a walking billboard."

When asked how MLS in Miami would be different from the experience of the Fusion, Serrano said, "The Miami Fusion broke our hearts. The reality was that Horowitz didn't have the money to keep the team going. The Fusion was progressing on and off the field in 2001. Had he held on a little longer the team would still be here today."

There is no doubt that the league, and the American soccer landscape, is much different than it was when the Fusion folded, but whether or not the fan support exists to make a new Miami franchise viable is still a big question yet to be answered.

Stadium Issues

One issue that will have to be resolved before Beckham can bring an MLS team to Miami is where the team will play.

While a story in the Daily Star on Sunday said that MLS has said it would be “perfectly acceptable” for the team to play in the Miami Dophins’ Sun Life Stadium, that seems to directly contradict earlier statements by Garber.

In Garber’s State of the League address on December 3, he said, “There’s a lot of work that needs to happen. We can’t go to Miami without the right stadium solution. David understands that. The city understands that. That’s an indisputable fact. We can’t have different rules in Miami than we have in any other city.”

Two weeks ago, Miami’s stadium proposal received a major boost as the Miami-Dade County Commissioners unanimously voted to give Miami mayor Carlos Gimenez the go-ahead to begin negotiations on a new stadium with Beckham’s investment group. The city is focusing on a site in downtown Miami.

The stadium location would help eliminate one criticism of the Fusion franchise, whose stadium was actually located in nearby Fort Lauderdale, not Miami itself.

The stadium will also reportedly be 100% privately financed, something that will certainly be amenable to Miami taxpayers and city officials.

Quality of Play

Since the addition of New York FC and Orlando City SC, as well as the statement from Garber that the league will continue to expand to 24 teams, more MLS franchises seem a foregone conclusion.

But it must be asked whether this rapid expansion will be good for the league. Certainly, interest in soccer continues to grow in America at a rapid pace, but as interest grows, so does an appreciation for the quality of play.

Many soccer critics believe the quality in Major League Soccer is roughly equivalent to the English Championship. Some numbers bear that out—MLS attendance this past year surpasses current Championship attendance and the leagues’ player ratings are roughly similar.

But perhaps a better measure of the popularity of the league—and the fans’ willingness to watch it—can be derived from its television numbers. While attendance at MLS games rivals both the NBA and the NHL, its television numbers are absolutely abysmal—lower than the WNBA.

Some of this can be attributed to the league’s lack of flex scheduling, late West Coast kickoff times and poor decision-making by TV executives (the 2013 MLS Cup went head-to-head with the SEC Championship), but one has to wonder how big the league can get without seeing a notable drop in play.

While MLS’ TV numbers are dropping, viewership of the English Premier League is growing by leaps and bounds. Early figures on the 2013-14 EPL season have shown EPL viewership in the U.S. has nearly doubled from a year ago. That would indicate that while Americans are more willing than ever to watch soccer on TV, they expect to watch a quality product.

This is an issue that MLS will continue to struggle with, whether or not Beckham brings a franchise to the league. It's also an issue that Serrano admits must be addressed, "Expansion needs to slow after team 24. [MLS] need to take a deep breath and give the local home grown players time to get better and catch up with the rest of the world.”

David Beckham or no David Beckham, expansion or no expansion, the quality of play must be at a high level if MLS’ fanbase is going to continue to grow.

Follow me on Twitter @JohnDHalloran

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Rafael Baca and Michael Farfan finally made their permanent move from MLS to Cruz Azul, but what about the other MLS rumors that are yet to come to fruition?

Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky is in search of a new deal with the North London club, but hinted a move to MLS would be a desirable one if it's not offered. The Philadelphia Union have pinpointed their target in Argentina.

Then, there's Obafemi Martins. 

The Seattle Sounders forward set off rampant speculation with a simple visit to Turkey this week.

Read on for all the details.

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Clint Dempsey is possibly the most popular footballer in the United States. He definitely is the most popular in Seattle.

So popular that his head is adorned on the neck of one Sounders fan.

Dempsey posted a picture on his Facebook page on Christmas Day of the tattoo.

Having just re-signed on loan for Fulham, we will wait and see if any West London fans have similar artwork. 

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The 2013 Major League Soccer season was one of the most exciting in league history with dozens of players having standout years.

Narrowing down those outstanding performances to a list of just 25 players can be a harrowing process. But, after an exhaustive examination of each player, considering their individual performance over the course of the season, as well as their team's success, here are the "25 Best MLS Players of 2013."

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