Geoff Cameron, the former United States international who has played in England's top two divisions since departing Major League Soccer in 2012, is close to returning to MLS as an FC Cincinnati player.
FC Cincinnati and Cameron, 35, are expected to soon complete a deal pending the results of a medical examination, a league source told The Enquirer.
Cameron is expected to arrive to the Cincinnati region early this week. Additional details of the anticipated deal weren't immediately revealed.
It's thought that Cameron would give FC Cincinnati depth in the defense and steady, veteran experience on a backline that's buckled early in 2021.
At 35, Cameron's demonstrated longevity and would be arriving to FCC having made 35 appearances this past season for Queens Park Rangers FC. That would constitute the third-most appearances he's made in a single season since moving to play in England.
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In addition to 55 appearances for the U.S. men's national team, Cameron played in more than 180 matches from 2012 to 2018 across all competitions for Stoke City, then of the English Premier League.
Cameron played the last three seasons at Queens Park Rangers, a London-based club currently playing in England's second-division Championship.
Cameron announced last week he was set to depart "QPR." He signed off from the club with a substitute appearance in Saturday's 3-1 victory against Luton Town.
QPR finished ninth in the 24-club competition, just nine points in the standings behind the sixth position which would have earned the club a berth in the playoffs to earn promotion to the English Premier League.
"I have tried to represent the club in the best way possible, both on and off the field," Cameron said in a statement released by QPR prior to his final match. "I have tried to set an example for the young guys and give them as much knowledge as I could. It's been an absolute privilege to both captain and play for QPR. There comes a time when you have to do the best for your family, and the future ahead of me, but I'll always be a QPR fan."
Prior to his move to England, Cameron first made his mark professionally at Houston Dynamo FC.
Cameron was a third-round MLS SuperDraft pick in 2008 and went on to make 116 appearances for Houston.
MLSSoccer.com's Tom Bogert reported on Wednesday that Cameron "is no longer on the MLS Allocation List, meaning he can sign with any club without that team having to trade up to the No. 1 Allocation Slot."
FC Cincinnati needs help along the back line and specifically center back, where it's stretched thin and where Cameron would slot in even though he has experience at multiple defensive positions and in the midfield.
Maikel van der Werff might have been considered FC Cincinnati's top center back option during the offseason but missed much of the 2021 preseason through injury and won't be playing soon enough for the club to keep him in its immediate plans.
On Friday, FC Cincinnati announced van der Werff was placed on the injured list, which opened a both senior roster spot and an international spot that was filled by recently-acquired goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer.
Nick Hagglund and Tom Pettersson started FCC's first three matches of the current season playing alongside one another.
Those matches saw FC Cincinnati concede what was then a league-worst 10 goals. The club didn't play a match during the week of May 2.
Center back Gustavo Vallecilla, 21, became eligible to join FC Cincinnati training sessions on April 30 but he isn't necessarily expected to take on an immediate starting role.
Vallecilla is on loan at FC Cincinnati for a year and could be retained by the club at the end of that period.
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