 He was sold to the Rowdies in January 1976 for a £40,000 fee.He made two oft-quoted remarks during his transfer, stating that "football in England had become a grey game, played on grey days by grey people" and upon arriving in America he announced that "Pelé is known as the black Rodney Marsh" after the Rowdies owner said that "Rodney Marsh is known as the white Pelé".He played from 1976 to 1979 in the States, leading the Rowdies to the Soccer Bowl in his final two seasons.