SECAUCUS, NJ - Red Bull New York announced on Wednesday that Major League Soccer and 2007-2008 Spanish La Liga runner-up Villarreal CF have agreed in principle to a transfer fee for Red Bulls 18-year-old forward Jozy Altidore.
Altidore must agree to personal contract terms and undergo a physical with Villarreal before the deal can be completed. Also, the deal, which has been agree to in principle, cannot become official until July 1, when the European transfer window opens.
It has been reported in the Spanish media that Villarreal plans to loan Altidore to fellow La Liga squad Recreativo Huelva for the 2008-2009 season.
Terms of the transfer were not disclosed, but according to various reports Villarreal has agreed to pay MLS and the Red Bulls between $8 and $10 million for the transfer, shattering the previous record paid for an MLS player, which was the $4 million English Premier League side Fulham paid for Clint Dempsey after the 2006 MLS season.
Altidore leads the Red Bulls this season with three goals in eight games after scoring 12 goals in 18 starts in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.