Just so you know his background. - He was born in Germany - His father was an American artist - His mother is Croatian - His parents were not married - His father died before he was born - Jeremy never lived in the USA - as the USMNT manager, Klinsmann called just to check and Toljan wasn't even interested - In my interview with Toljan, he was very dismissive of the idea - in addition to not being eligible at the time. It would require Toljan to have a change of heart about the USMNT, then undergo the amazing amount of blue tape to prove paternity with a guy he never knew and who has been dead 30+ years (required due to an unmarried birth abroad and an deceased American father), then he would need to go through the very complicated passport process after paternity proof, then he would need to convince Pochettino he is better than current options to the point where its not even worth giving looks to younger players for the future. Dual nationals are worth exploring, but this one pushes it due to its complexity, the very possibility he's not even eligible, and his own past of not even being interested at all when called by the USMNT coach.
Toljan is definitely not an option for the USMNT at this point, but you wonder if it would've been smart for him to commit earlier and enlist USSF support to acquire an American passport. His career could benefit from having the MLS option right about now.
If his heart wasn't in it, it's best he didn't try to fake interest in the USMNT just to advance his career. You have to really want to play for a national team to be at your best. I don't think you can be a good national team player if you don't want to be there. Plus, if you don't want to be there, it's going to start really being a problem for the rest of the team. As for just acquiring a U.S. passport for life options, that might have been worthwhile - but still might not have been possible.
Yeah I was just advancing a cynical POV. Still, in your experience isn't it kind of unusual for a a player to be so openly disdainful of the NT opportunity, even without a clear path with another federation?
It's uncommon, but it happens every now and then. The last one was Jaheim Headley at Huddersfield. He had no interest in the USA at all (it was at a time when he was eligible for U.S. youth national teams and getting Championship minutes). It was a funny story I'll share. I've worked with Huddersfield's media office several times in the past for several stories (on Duane Holmes, David Wagner, Danny Williams). They've known me for a long time and we have a good relationship. So they reached out and said they had a young left back with their first team and that he has an American passport (and could also play for either England or Jamaica). They then said they would love to set me up with an interview with him to discuss being another USMNT eligible player at their club. They approached me, I didn't make the first approach. But I agreed, it sounded interesting as a young player already getting Championship minutes. Why not? They then said they'd set it up. A few days later, they had to call back all apologetically. It turns out Headley didn't even want to speak to me. He told the club's media press officer to tell me that he had no interested in playing for the USA or speaking with an American journalist about the issue. He only wanted to play for either England or Jamaica. Flash forward to today, he hasn't been called up at any level by Jamaica, let alone England.
Toljan and Sassuolo had an upset Cup win today over Lecce. Jeremy played pretty well, aiding the shutout in a 2-0 result. Perhaps the bigger YA angle here is that it sets up a round of 16 match against AC Milan in December.
Toljan came on as a halftime sub in a 0-0 draw with fellow promotion contender Spezia. Had the highest ratings of the subs.
any chance Toljan changes his mind before next summer? Just got promoted to Serie A. This would be in case Dest or Scally get injured again.
I'm not an immigration lawyer, but this seems like potentially years worth of petitioning the already slow immigration courts to get to a point where he could obtain a passport without having to go through the naturalization process.
Wolverhampton interested in Toljan. Currently out of contract. https://www.thenational.scot/sport/25274835.epl-club-considering-surprise-move-ex-celtic-flop/
Now at Levante in Spain. Promoted to La Liga at end of last year. Good challenge for him after a season in Serie B. https://www.levanteud.com/en/news/jeremy-toljan-es-el-nuevo-refuerzo-del-levante-ud
Starts for Levante in friendly. https://www.levanteud.com/en/news/e...el-al-qadsiah-y-sigue-invicto-en-pretemporada
ALINEACIÓN | Este es nuestro once para medirnos al @Alaves.#AlavésLevanteUD pic.twitter.com/LjCpCKPqCc— Levante UD (@LevanteUD) August 16, 2025 Starts their La Liga opener
Jeremy Toljan (31) scores his first ever goal in La Liga to tie things up at 1-1 for Levante away from home against Deportivo Alaves ⚽️🇩🇪pic.twitter.com/HGiDQzv8K8— LaLigaExtra (@LaLigaExtra) August 16, 2025 Jeremy Toljan (31) scores his first ever goal in La Liga to tie things up at 1-1 for Levante away from home against Deportivo Alaves
Went 90 min for Levante on Sept. 14. https://www.transfermarkt.us/levante-ud_real-betis-balompie/index/spielbericht/4645573
Toljan has really settled in as Levante's starting right back. 90 minutes today as they pick up their second win of the season, 2-0 over Oviedo, and move to mid-table.
They've surely made an approach or two down the years and he's been playing at levels that are too good to be ignored. But if he hasn't made any appearances, not even cups of coffee in friendlies, it's safe to say that he wasn't interested and made that plain enough that they stopped calling. As for now, would he add enough to warrant a callup, especially when he's gone 31 and Croatia are rebuilding around youth - 13 players aged 25 or younger in the most recent squad? His MNT ship has sailed a long time ago
Exactly. This isn't 1998 anymore. We don't need to scrounge for players to round out our roster (David Regis--shudder). If you want to play for us, great. If not, no problem. People are people. In Toljan's case, his American connection (his father) died before he was born. There may be any number of reasons that affect people's decisions. And we aren't desperate to fill gaps like we were once upon a time.
We would probably play a form of 3-5-2 and Weah could play the position although Poch loves him some Freeman.