Confirmed!
Marlon Alex James will pursue his career with his team mate, Cornelius Bernard Hugging to United States of America. Marlon Alex James will be represent San Jose Earthquake in Major League Soccer while Cornelius Bernard Hugging will play for second division Major League Soccer club, Vancouver Whitecaps.
When asked, Marlon confirmed that
“I can’t wait to start new challenge in MLS, for me it’s a great opportunity for me to expand my professional career after four season in Malaysia
He sure that the standard in MLS is much higher and I need to keep fit and I am ready for the challenge. Another factor why I choose to play in America because it’s nearer to my hometown, Saint Vincent and Grenadines.”
Due to the transfer window for MLS players has closed, Marlon will be loan by San Jose to Vancouver Whitecaps until end of the season and only will start with San Jose next season.
Marlon Alex James admits that the last two seasons in Malaysia with Kedah is the best moment of life in his career and he will remember all sweet moments and success with the Canaries.
I think something is being lost in the translation. I heard that Vancouver is offering Marlon Alex James a month to month contract. The Earthquakes own his discovery rights, but those rights would expire at the end of the year. I doubt San Jose will have their name on any contract with James right now.
I'm still not sure how Vancouver could sign them. The transfer window closed on the 15th, the same as the window for MLS. This is a pretty tricky deal we're talking about.
Jeff,
i have read somewhere that MLS club can sign player that is out of contract out of the transfer window, but the player will only eligible to play when the transfer window open which is on January.
May be this case apply to James. It's pretty tricky case on this due to differences of transfer window.
FYI, James and Outlaw has depart from Kedah this afternoon (local time). I am waiting for Malaysia ESPN Sportcenter hoping they have some update on this matter..
MsPuraVida,
Looks like you were right, James and Huggins have been denied transfer to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The claim is they are not receiving "international clearance" to play, meaning they missed the transfer window.
I wish I had direct contact with them or their agent. I believe they should have a case to appeal. When FAM announced they would not allow foreign players for next year, they told the teams to terminate all foreign player contracts. This was done during the transfer window for all players EXECEPT for those involved in the Malaysia Cup. This is discriminatory. James and Huggins could have easily tanked the playoffs to get released early and move on. They did not. Because of that, other foreign players had the opportunity to join teams outside Malaysia while James and Huggins were denied.
I don't know how the appeal process works, but if I were them, I'd be filing and asking FIFA why they were not released from their contracts like all the other foreign players not in the playoffs were. This is an unusual situation and they shouldn't have to pay the price.