Orlando City is on the verge of signing U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Brek Shea. Reports indicate the club is finalizing a deal with Stoke City of the English Premier League to bring Shea back to Major League Soccer.

The 25-year-old Shea left FC Dallas in January 2013 after five seasons to join Stoke in $4 million move but has struggled to find a place in the team. He has been loaned out to lower-division clubs Barnsley and Birmingham City. He has made just four appearances for Stoke and has made just 14 loan appearances for both clubs.

He made eight appearances for Barnsley, where his loan ended in controversy after apparently making an obscene gesture while attempting to restrain a teammate for attacking a fan. He also made six appearances for Birmingham City, where his loan just ended.

Shea trained with Orlando during the summer, where he impressed the club and will now return to the league where he began his career and will look to regain his All Star and Best XI form.

As a returning national team player he is subject to the allocation system. Orlando is currently second to fellow expansion club New York City FC and it is unknown how Orlando would jump ahead of them to sign Shea.  The signing should be completed within the next few days.

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