FC Cincinnati finalizing deal to sign Matt Miazga from Chelsea | OneFootball

FC Cincinnati are finalizing a deal to sign United States international defender Matt Miazga from Chelsea, 90min can confirm.

90min reported earlier on Thursday that the Orange and Blue were leading the race for Miazga's signature, though they faced competition from a number of Belgian and English clubs, including Coventry City.

However, sources have now confirmed that Cincinnati and Miazga have now come to an agreement that'll see him arrive at TQL Stadium on a free transfer, signing a max-TAM (Targeted Allocation Money) deal, meaning he won't require a Designated Player spot.

FC Cincinnati had been holding on to the top spot in the MLS Allocation Order to make sure they got the signing of Miazga over the line ahead of the MLS secondary transfer window closing later on Thursday.

Miazga left fellow Major League Soccer outfit the New York Red Bulls in January 2016 but has since made just two senior appearances for Chelsea. Instead, the center-back has experienced far more joy during various loan spells to the likes of Reading, Vitesse, and Anderlecht.

The 22-time USMNT star will join the likes of Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron, and Tyler Blackett on the center-back depth chart in Cincinnati, with Pat Noonan's side currently sitting ninth in the Eastern Conference.