From one Sporting club to another: Looks like Oriol Rosell is off to Portugal for good [Update: Yep, he’s gone]

Is Sporting Kansas City midfielder Oriol Rosell the latest local player to sign a contract with a European club team? It sure looks that way.

A report out on Tuesday from Major League Soccer follows on a drumbeat of European media stories that link the 21-year-old Spaniard with top-flight Sporting Clube de Portugal. The story seems to fall just short of confirming that the nimble Rosell will sign with the Portuguese club. It says (citing European media) that he’s in Lisbon, where Sporting Clube de Portugal plays, for a medical exam. 

Another media report holds that Rosell could sign a five-year deal soon.

A Sporting KC spokesman said a comment from the club would be arriving soon.

[Update, 1:20 p.m. Sporting KC confirmed Rosell’s departure]

If all those pieces fall into place, it would mark another loss to Sporting KC’s manpower, a team that’s winless in five matches due in large part to a long list of injuries and the absence of Graham Zusi and Matt Besler, both representing the United States in the World Cup.

Sporting KC would likely be rewarded handsomely for Rosell (who goes by “Uri” on the back of his jersey) and his services. His transfer would likely command more than $1 million from the Portuguese club. 

He would be the third key Sporting KC player to leave for European pastures since the start of 2013; Roger Espinoza and Kei Kamara both joined English teams last year.