Kyle Porter Has Left FC Edmonton

Kyle Porter’s reunion with FC Edmonton has ended after one season.

The 31-year-old versatile midfielder made twenty appearances for the Eddies across all competitions last year, the majority of which saw him come off the bench as a late game substitute under head coach Alan Koch.

“I hope that everything transpiring with the club will be resolved soon,” the midfielder told us today, “all I can say is thank you to the fans for the support. I have nothing but love and respect for the club.”

Porter had spent two years with the Eddies back in its NASL days, where he featured as a regular starter before launching himself to MLS heights with DC United. His reunion with the Alberta-based side ended amicably, with Porter now listing himself as a free agent in a highlight video posted last night:

While the Toronto-born athlete spent his Eddies return in a central midfield role, his career has seen him turn out all over the pitch: he’s proven himself on both the left and right wings, he’s been deployed as a striker, and he’s proven capable at right-back, too. In a salary cap league like the CPL, that versatility has value, even if it went largely unused with the Eddies.

Porter had arrived to the Canadian Premier League as York United’s first-ever player signing in 2018, with the versatile midfielder going on to make 37 appearances for the Nine Stripes across all competitions. He provided three goals and eight assists during the club’s York9 FC era, with his last goal coming in a thrilling derby win over Forge FC at The Island Games.

The former DC United man also has ample experience in the USL, having played for the Atlanta Silverbacks, Ottawa Fury, and the Tampa Bay Rowdies before signing with York United. He had also made seven appearances for the Canadian national team between 2013-2015.

“Fans of FC Edmonton truly deserve better,” the midfielder told us today, “I’m disappointed last season didn’t go as planned. I wasn’t given a consistent opportunity to make you Eddie fans proud.”

He becomes the fourth confirmed player departure from FC Edmonton, with Allan Zebie and Connor James having retired before star striker Easton Ongaro signed in the Romanian first division with UTA Arad.

With the troubled club now being run by the league and other club owners chipping in for player salaries at the present, how much will be invested into the squad for the upcoming season remains to be seen.

See Also: FC Edmonton Facing Blunt Truth: ‘We Must Improve’

While what happens next with FC Edmonton remains to be seen, the club roster is expected to face significant turnover. Kyle Porter is the fourth athlete to depart, but he certainly won’t be the last.