DeAndre Yedlin named US Soccer's best young talent ahead of Tottenham Hotspur switch

Seattle Sounders full-back Deandre Yedlin has been named the US Soccer Young Male Athlete of the Year ahead of his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Yedlin, 21, earned a move to White Hart Lane after an impressive World Cup campaign in Brazil and was set to remain at the MLS club until next summer before moving to the Premier League ahead of the 2015/16 season.

The right-back may have already played his last game for Sounders, however, whose season came to an end after they were eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs on Monday 1 December by LA Galaxy.

Tottenham are poised the bring Yedlin to north London earlier than planned, providing the player can secure a Latvian passport that will qualify him to work in the UK.

Should he have already made his MLS swansong, Yedlin will leave with the award that gives him the title of the best young American in the game, handed down by governing body the United States Soccer Federation.

In addition to his breakout performances for Jurgen Kinsmann's side in the summer, Yedlin helped Sounders secure the league's Supporters Shield and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup to crown an impressive 2014 for the talented defender.

"It's an absolute honor to win this award," Yedlin said in a statement. "I would like to thank my teammates, my family, and most of all the fans for the amazing support for our team. It was a tremendous year for a lot of young players, and we all share the dream of continuing to have the opportunity to represent our country."

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard scooped the Male Athlete of the Year award.

Yedlin revealed in October he had applied for a Latvian passport in order to boost his chances of gaining a work permit needed to complete his move to English football.

Not long after that, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the club were looking into the possibility of bringing the United States international to White Hart Lane ahead of a schedule having been beset by problems at right back all season.

First-choice-option Kyle Walker has not played a competitive match since March having suffered from a series of abdominal problems that required surgery in September. The England international recently returned to training but is still unsure when he will be able to take his place in the first team.

Kyle Naughton, Eric Dier and Vlad Chiriches have all been deployed on the right-hand side of defence in his absence but to little success.

Speaking in November, Yedlin said he was unsure whether he would be able to join Tottenham in January as he was still waiting to hear back about his passport.