Parks and recreation in Lisbon: Keaton at NYCFC (on loan from Benfica)

Does it have to wait for the official MLS transfer window to open up? That's Feb. right?

 

To the first question, yes. Until the receiving country's window opens, he cannot be transferred to a club there and actually play. He can train, sure, but nothing more.

 

Erm, the Old Firm are in Glasgow, not Edinburgh

 

Yea, he is referencing his time at Hibs.

 

NYCFC doesn't play in a FIFA sanctioned match until mid-February, so there's no reason they wouldn't announce it ASAP. According to fan-blogs, their pre-season doesn't begin until February 12, which would maybe explain the lack of an announcement, but absolutely does not explain his absence from the B-team.

In Benfica news, Bruno Lage was named head coach until the end of the season. Now I'm starting to wonder if Rui Vitoria was keeping Keaton at Benfica while the rest of the staff wanted him gone... given that NYCFC won't be training for another month, there's no reason to not have him involved with either the senior team or the B-team...

 

Vazquez just got sold to Qatar from Toronto. Toronto could use a feeder mid like Keaton to replace Vazquez. Getting CCL experience would help Keaton's game. But I kinda doubt Benfica would want him in Toronto vs. NYCFC

 

#SLBenficaB | 🗒 Onze inicial: Fábio Duarte; Alex Pinto, Kalaica, Ferro, Nuno Tavares, Florentino, Tiago Dantas, Benny, Willock, Jota e Zé Gomes

💺 Suplentes: D. Azevedo, Tomás Tavares, Pedro Álvaro, Nuno Santos, Gonçalo Ramos, Rodrigo Conceição e Saponjic.

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) January 16, 2019

Another B-team game sans-Parks. NYCFC announced today that Yangel Herrera has departed

 

MLS says the loan to NYcFC would be for the entire MLS 2019 season.

 

Good. He's wasting his time sitting on a bench in the Portuguese 2nd.

 

Right now he's not even sitting on a bench... no clue if he's even still training with Benfica B. NYCFC must've let Benfica know they don't start pre-season until February, so even if he is heading to NYCFC on loan, why not continue having him play games?

Maybe NYCFC requested he be given a little rest so he doesn't wind up over-exerting himself by playing non-stop from August '18 to (potentially) November '19.

 

I would absolutely buy this as the most likely scenario.

 

Are you sure? is not like NYCFC plays in a big field. February is 2 weeks away. If anything, I think he is already in the big apple looking for his new digs in the Bronx.

 

David Tavares (Benfica B player) tagged KP in this instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BstM_fmgloq/

Who knows how long ago that pic was taken, but it does suggest he's still in Lisbon.

 

There it is

New York City FC acquire Keaton Parks from @SLBenfica for the 2019 season 🖊️ #ForTheCity

READ ➡️ https://t.co/PILFrJzXmF pic.twitter.com/dVYJNvSQWw

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) January 19, 2019

 

You can't Keaton a good man down once he's seen Parks Avenue.

 

Keaton on his playstyle: "I'm a box-to-box player, I have great vision, good touches on the ball, good passing, and I can also make a tackle when I need to".

 

Central Parks: Keaton at New York City (on loan from Benfica)

Parks with the Pigeons

Benfica Boy in the Bronx

I don't care about the title too much, except that I would urge the mods NOT to use "NYCFC." It's so clunky.

 

+1 for Central Parks

 

When you see people online push the "this is the end of the road for Parks at Benfica", remember this:

No option to buy on the Keaton Parks loan. Great opportunity for Parks. Wonder if it was influenced by getting matches in the US under Gregg Berhalter’s eye.

— Kyle Schnitzer (@Kyle_Schnitzer) January 19, 2019

 

So we finally have a height lol 6 feet 2.5 inches.

Welcome to New York City @keaton_parks 🗽 pic.twitter.com/MRMsZgQzbg

— New York City FC (@newyorkcityfc) January 19, 2019

 

+2

 

A Bronx tale: Keaton to MLS

 

Not a bad landing spot for a guy who played high school ball! I've been rooting for him for a while.

 

Barefoot? Or with shoes? Or with cleats??

 

barefoot, he was wearing thin sports socks.