IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, and two American youth players signed new deals with English clubs. Here are the details. 

Cody Cropper to MK Dons

In a deal that was reached last week but formalized today, U.S. U-23 goalkeeper Cody Cropper has signed with MK Dons of the English Championship. The Dons are coming off a successful season in 2014/2015 where it finished second in League One to earn promotion to England’s second tier.

Cropper, 22, has previously played for youth teams at Ipswich and Southampton but will be aiming to make his professional debut with the Dons. It won't be easy, though. David Martin, 29, has been the team’s starting goalkeeper since 2010 and has made a total of 209 appearances for the club.

In addition to the MK Dons, Cropper is likely to continue to be part of the U.S. U-23 team which will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics this October.

Brooks Lennon to Liverpool

It has been widely known among followers of U.S. youth national team soccer that Liverpool FC has wanted to sign U.S. U-18 forward Brooks Lennon. The problem: It appeared that Lennon lacked eligibility to obtain a European Union passport.

Top Drawer Soccer has now reported that Lennon, 17, was able to secure an Irish passport and will now sign for the storied English club. Due to FIFA age restrictions, he will likely be unable to formally join until his 18th birthday this September.

Lennon has been a key member of Real Salt Lake-Arizona’s U-18 team where he scored 31 goals last season and is one of the top players in the Developmental Academy.

In the coming months the U.S. U-20 team will shift focus to the next cycle with an eye toward the 2017 World Cup in South Korea. It is widely expected that Lennon will be a key part of that squad.