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Jack McGlynn is reportedly nearing a move from the Houston Dynamo to Stoke City. ESPN reported that Stoke City was near a deal for the midfielder, while American Soccer Now said reports indicated that McGlynn and San Diego FC left back Luca Bombino were heading to the English Championship club before the transfer deadline.
Move Not Yet Formalized
The proposed transfer had not been formalized at the time of American Soccer Now’s report. The outlet described the moves involving McGlynn and Bombino as likely to happen before the deadline, making clear that neither deal was complete.
McGlynn, 23, has played well since moving from Philadelphia to Houston last year, according to American Soccer Now. The report said he has helped the Dynamo become one of the top teams in the Western Conference and characterized the prospective move as an opportunity for Houston to sell an American player to Europe.
What Houston Would Be Losing
McGlynn’s departure would remove a midfielder who has been an important part of Houston’s rise in the Western Conference. American Soccer Now said the Dynamo have long wanted to demonstrate that they could sell American players to Europe, and the reported Stoke City move would represent that opportunity.
The timing also comes with Houston among the stronger teams in the conference. McGlynn’s performances since arriving in Texas have helped the club’s standing, according to the report, even as the Dynamo consider a transfer abroad for the midfielder.
Stoke City’s Challenge
Stoke City presents a demanding destination. The club had lost its first three Championship matches of the season and finished 17th out of 24 teams in 2025/26, according to American Soccer Now. Stoke has not returned to the Premier League since its relegation in 2018 and has gone through a succession of managers while recording mid- to lower-half finishes.
The hope for McGlynn and Bombino would be to help Stoke stabilize and return to being one of the better teams in the Championship. American Soccer Now suggested that both players could receive substantial minutes soon after their arrivals are formalized.
A Potential Route Forward
The report also framed the Championship as a possible platform for players seeking further opportunities in Europe. While the division has historically been a difficult place for Americans to establish upward mobility without direct promotion, American Soccer Now said recent MLS-to-Championship moves have gone well and that clubs in the league are increasingly scouting MLS talent.
McGlynn is no longer a U.S. youth international, but he is a veteran of the U.S. youth national-team system and should remain in the mix for the full national team, according to American Soccer Now. A formalized move to Stoke City would give him a new setting in which to pursue that opportunity.
Further reading: American Soccer Now
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