What is Sporting Kansas City’s plan for teen champion Erik Palmer-Brown?

The loan was made official in February, a measure designed to shift Sporting Kansas City teenager Erik Palmer-Brown out of his comfort zone.

So after spending the previous decade of his childhood living in Lee’s Summit — a short drive from his employer — Palmer-Brown resided in Portugal for the last four months.

He returns home this weekend as a champion.

Palmer-Brown just completed his first season with Porto B, which earlier this month won its first title in the LigaPro, the second division of soccer in Portugal. With that league now in its offseason, Palmer-Brown will head back to Kansas City — but not necessarily with a plan to rejoin his hometown club.

“He needs some time off probably,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “We’re going to talk with him and see where he is. He should probably take a couple of weeks off, and then maybe he can start coming in and training with us. We’ll see where it goes from there.”

The loan to FC Porto, the senior club for Porto B, does not expire until Dec. 31. Because the move was a loan rather than a full transfer, Sporting KC retains the rights to Palmer-Brown.

Sporting KC can elect to end the agreement at any point, but Vermes indicated the plan is to have Palmer-Brown return overseas for the 2016-17 LigaPro season.

Palmer-Brown, who turned 19 last month, made 11 appearances for Porto B in their final 13 matches. He played the full 90 minutes in 10 of those, starting each at center back.

Sporting KC is deeper at center back than it has been in recent years after the offseason addition of Nuno Coelho, who has not missed a match in his first MLS season. In other words, the need for Palmer-Brown on the senior team isn’t readily obvious.

“I guess you could say anything’s open,” Vermes said. “But (as of) right now, it’s not like we’re going to re-activate him here. Not yet.”

The outline for Palmer-Brown after the loan expires has not yet been made, Vermes said.

Palmer-Brown was once seen as a future cornerstone piece for Sporting KC. He signed with the club in August 2013, becoming the club’s youngest player. He made 10 appearances with Sporting KC during the 2014-15 seasons.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 2:18 PM with the headline "What is Sporting Kansas City’s plan for teen champion Erik Palmer-Brown?."