Jordan Morris chose not to sign for Werder Bremen because he was "homesick," the club's CEO Thomas Eichin has told Bild.
This week, Werder announced that U.S. international Morris will not be joining the club for now as he wants to pursue his career in America.
The former Stanford junior is reportedly poised to sign the richest homegrown player contract in MLS history with the Seattle Sounders on Thursday.
Morris, 21, had been on trial with Bremen at their winter training camp in Turkey and Eichin had said he was confident a deal would be completed, but the attacker opted against signing a contract.
"Jordan was homesick," Eichin said. "It's better that Jordan says how he feels straight away. It would have been more problematic after three, four weeks."
It has also been claimed by local newspaper Weser Kurier that Morris was pressured by MLS to reject a move to the Bundesliga side -- but Werder have rejected those rumours.
"That's got nothing to do with it," sporting director Rouven Schroder told the paper. "The lad made a great impression. But we nevertheless had the feeling that he wants to make the next step in the United States."
U.S. men's national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann told ESPN FC that he "is thrilled that Jordan decided to go pro," adding he's also "thrilled with the Sounders" and "that he goes into an environment that he knows, that he feels comfortable with."
Bremen, who are in a battle to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga, have already announced they will track Morris' progress in MLS.