Sporting KC defender Erik Palmer-Brown is subject of potential loan to Portugal club
Erik Palmer-Brown has departed Sporting Kansas City training camp in Tucson, Ariz., and is traveling to Portugal to negotiate a potential loan to FC Porto, The Star has learned.
The discussed move — which must be agreed to before the transfer window closes Monday — centers on a loan rather than a full transfer, which would allow Sporting KC to retain his rights.
Palmer-Brown, 18, is a homegrown defender and Lee's Summit resident who graduated last May from O'Hara High School. He has been a sought-after commodity since he turned professional in August 2013.
Italian club Juventus made multiple transfer offers for Palmer-Brown over the past two seasons, and Sporting Club CEO Robb Heineman said last March a deal would likely be completed, but Juventus was unable to reach an agreement with Sporting KC.
Palmer-Brown has made 10 career appearances with Sporting KC, including four starts last season. But he has yet to climb up the central defender depth charts. Matt Besler, Ike Opara, newly-acquired Portuguese defender Nuno André Coelho and Kevin Ellis all figured to open the 2016 ahead of Palmer-Brown.
Sam McDowell: 816-234-4869, @SamMcDowell11
This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Sporting KC defender Erik Palmer-Brown is subject of potential loan to Portugal club."