CREDIT: IVES GALARCEP
Brek Shea and two of his MLS counterparts moved overseas this winter transfer window.

As Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen pointed out, every English Premier League team now has scouts watching every MLS game. The talent in the MLS has grown over the years and English Premier League teams are taking notice. This winter, English clubs scooped up three talented MLS players.

Kei Kamara has spent the last three years with Sporting Kansas City (SKC), leading them offensively to consecutive Eastern Conference championships. Kamara played on the right wing with Teal Bunbury and CJ Sapong, and has become one of the best strikers in the league.

He's gone to Norwich City on loan for the rest of the English season. He led the MLS in shots last season with 134, scoring 11 goals in the process. In his first game with Norwich, he had a shot about 30 seconds into his debut. It's hard to tell if he just takes a lot of shots or gets into good position to take the shots, but I'm going to argue the latter.

SKC runs with three forwards, and he led all three strikers in goals while playing on the left side. He did have lots of service by Graham Zusi, but his new Norwich teammate Robert Snodgrass should fill that void. Kamara might not get much playing time, as he'll have to compete with standout player Grant Holt, Canadian Simeon Jackson, and Leeds United's new acquisition Luciano Becchio.

Roger Espinoza is another SKC player moving to England, but instead he's going a little more west to Wigan Athletic. The Lactics are looking at getting relegated this year, so adding a depth player like Espinoza will go a long way to solidify their midfield and defence. He can play as a defensive midfielder/stopper, which is what Wigan needs against the high-powered offenses they face every week in England.

Thanks to Espinoza's assistance, SKC only had 27 goals against them last season.

The Honduran represented his nation at the Olympics last year and has amassed 26 appearances for his country. It's a real Wigan kind of signing: cheap and defensive- minded. Regardless, Espinoza should have a good showing as he moves up to the big leagues.

Finally, there's Brek Shea, the man with the best name — and hair — in MLS. He moved to Stoke City for a price of £2.5 million from FC Dallas. He is the future of the U.S. midfield core as he's a dangerous player with the speed and touch to burn any defender. Last season, it was clear that he was so much better than the players around him; it was the right time for a move.

Stoke procured Shea in hopes to add some depth in the midfield, as Shea is a versatile player in the middle. Shea is a player to watch, not only because of his exciting on-field play, but also his rising stock within the game. Shea was the pick of the lot of MLS players this transfer window.