When it comes to transfers in MLS, we are never really exposed to those unbelievable deals we see happen in Europe. Then there are the likes of the Beckham and Henry signings that really spark new life into the fans interest in their club. This past week, Seattle Sounders pulled off a monumental signing by persuading Clint Dempsey to join the club. They also had to spend $9million to get him in the process (plus a huge yearly salary).
From a playing perspective, it is difficult to access if this was the right or wrong move for Deuce. I’ve read all the commentary online for both sides and there are some very valid points. Personally, I believe it was Clint’s decision and whatever happens serves justice to his decision. People have a right to their own opinion, but I am a firm believer in personal choice, so most of the commentary from the outside is wasted text!
From a league perspective, it is a fantastic move and the acquisition of Deuce is only going to increase interest levels in MLS. He has signed for a pretty awesome club, with some of the best fans in the World (yes I said World) and he immediately has the opportunity to make an impact by leading Seattle into the playoffs and beyond. The Seattle squad is pretty strong at the moment, by the way, and the addition of Deuce will make for interesting viewing.
Already, we have seen a tremendous serge in the number of Seattle jerseys sold with “Dempsey 2” on the back. Sales of the jersey are sure to be strong for the next few weeks and I’m sure we will see the jersey pop up in all places around the country. Deuce was wearing #2 at Spurs last season and it was actually his college number. Quite an odd choice for an attacking minded player but if he scores goals while wearing it, I’m not going to judge! You can find plenty of Dempsey Jerseys at WorldSoccerShop right now.
Then there is Nike. This summer, Deuce made the switch from Vapor to Hypervenom, from Speed to Agility. It is a bold move considering he has worn the Mercurial range for most of his professional playing career, but it seemed like he was ready to make the switch and he actually played a role in research and development for the new silo. This now means Nike has a prime advertising figure located right under their noses. Deuce will now not only be their leading international endorser, but he will also become their face of MLS and that is something I am sure the home of the Swoosh is embracing right now. Not only do they have a high profile player in the league wearing their brand, but he is also the leading candidate for promoting the Hypervenom stateside. This in turn will result in larger deals for Deuce and I believe it will result in more money than he would have got in England.
Expect to see a lot more of Clint Dempsey and the Nike Hypervenom in the coming weeks/months!
[Also: Nike Hypervenom Phantom Review]
I am personally excited to see Dempsey get his Seattle Sounders debut and I am also eager to see which version of the Hypervenom he will choose to wear. Don’t be surprised if we see him don a personalized colorway!
And for you Nike Hypervenom fans out there, you can find a pair at soccer.com or there is a huge selection of NikeID versions to choose from (as seen below).