All signs point to Porter’s D.C. United gamble paying off

Kyle Porter took a major gamble, and it looks to have paid off. While the move has yet to be made official by D.C. United, Porter’s representatives at Kudos Management tweeted on Friday that the Canadian forward has signed with the MLS club.

“We confirm Kyle Porter has agreed to terms with DC United. The Kudos family wishes @KylePorter19 all the best with his new team.”

Porter only played seven minutes Saturday in DCU’s final game of the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, a 2-0 win over Philadelphia. That’s a sign that he’s indeed a part of the club, as coach Ben Olsen has already made up his mind about the Mississauga native and used the game as a chance to see other prospects.

Porter could have taken the security of an offer from FC Edmonton, the NASL club where he spent the last two years of his career. Porter scored 12 times over two seasons for the Eddies.

But Porter decided not to sign the 2013 contract offer from the Eddies, preferring to remain a free agent and try his luck in MLS after he spent a two-game stint with the national team, ironically under the watchful eye of FCE coach Colin Miller.

After the January friendlies against Denmark and the United States, the Eddies yanked the offer off the table, saying that an internal deadline had passed for Porter to re-sign with the club. So, had Porter not cracked the D.C. United lineup, he would not have the security of being able to return to FC Edmonton, though, more than likely, there would have been other NASL suitors for his services.

Now, Porter’s challenge will be to prove to Olsen he belongs in the lineup. Remember that D.C. United has affiliated with the Richmond Kickers of the USL, meaning some players could be shifted down to Div. 3 for playing time. Canadian soccer supporters are hoping that Porter can prove his worth and stay in the U.S. capital.