KANSAS CITY, Mo. – French defender Aurélien Collin has been training with Sporting Kansas City while stuck squarely in limbo for two weeks.
Manager Peter Vermes admits he would like to sign the towering, 25-year-old French defender, yet Collin is not a member of the squad. In fact, he is still technically under contract with Portuguese side Vitória de Setubal through the end of the current European season.
Vermes said he may be forced to wait until the summer transfer window as Collin attempts to resolve a contractual dispute with Setubal.
“He’s going through mediation with his situation over in Portugal,” Vermes said. “It’s a 30-day mark and the 30 days hits this week. He’s supposed to get a letter back with a resolution to the situation. As of right now, everything is in his favor.”
If the dispute is in fact decided in his favor, Collin would be out of contract and free to sign with Sporting according to Vermes, adding considerable depth to a back line that has been struggling thus far.
What exactly the issue is between Collin and Vitória Setubal remains unclear. Vermes declined to discuss specifics, citing the privacy of the player, and Collin has not been made available for interview by the club. What is clear, however, is that Kansas City believe Collin has the experience and skills to be an immediate contributor in MLS.
Collin can play either center back or right back and has already made professional stops in Scotland with Gretna, Greece with Panserraikos, Wales with Wrexham and Portugal with Setubal.
“He is a seasoned player,” Vermes said. “Not a veteran, but a seasoned player in those positions. He has a lot of experience and has played a lot of games in that area of the field. He will fit well in this league.”
But for now, Vermes must play the waiting game, hoping that Collin’s dispute with Setubal ends in the player’s favor fairly soon and that there are no other unexpected road blocks down the line.
“We are just waiting for that final letter to come through,” Vermes said.
