Maurice Edu will join Scottish club Glasgow Rangers, after MLS agreed to his $5 million transfer fee. Edu, a former All-American at Maryland, was the #1 overall pick in the 2007 MLS draft by Toronto FC and the 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year. He has six senior international caps for the United States and started for the U.S. in Beijing.

Edu has a unique background for an American, which may be a good thing. He was unheralded as a youth player, avoiding the unexceptional U.S. development program, never appearing before senior level. He also had a propitious rearing in Toronto, which has some of the best coaching and the most vigorous atmosphere that MLS has to offer.

Rangers should be the perfect move for Edu. They have experience with prominent Americans, such as Claudio Reyna and DaMarcus Beasley. He will get the benefits of being at a big European club, exposure, experience and excellent training. He will have time to develop, as the SPL is not as rude of an adjustment as it’s English or Spanish counterparts. He may also get to fill in immediately as a defender, with Carlos Cuellar leaving for Aston Villa.

Most importantly, Edu will learn to play under pressure. One of the biggest knocks on American players, particularly in MLS, is that they never face tense situations at club level. Consequently, when such situations arise internationally, such as closing out a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands in the Olympics, American players falter.

Rangers will blood Edu. The Old Firm derby with Celtic may be sports’ most bitter. Fans sing lyrics, such as “We are the Billy Boys, hullo, hullo, you’ll know us by our noise, we’re up to our knees in Fenian blood, surrender or you’ll die,” with only partial exaggeration. If Maurice can wear a Rangers shirt in Celtic Park, the 2010 World Cup won’t fluster him.

However, Edu’s more pressing problem may be an EA Sports curse (He will appear on the FIFA 09 cover). The FIFA hex may lack the Madden’s body of work, but look at what it has done to Ronaldinho.