Tylon Smith set to join New England Revolution from QPR on loan

South Africa defender Tylon Smith is set to leave Queens Park Rangers for Major League Soccer side New England Revolution on a season-long loan, with an option for the move to become permanent.

The 21-year-old centre-back has made four first-team appearances since joining the English Championship club from Stellenbosch at the beginning of last season.

Smith’s proposed move to the United States is expected to give him the chance to play a more prominent role and establish himself in a competitive league.

Sources close to New England Revolution have confirmed that the two clubs have reached an agreement over the loan, which includes the option of a permanent transfer at its conclusion.

The move would reunite Smith with New England head coach Marko Mitrovic, who was in charge of the United States U20 side when they faced South Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Mitrovic would therefore have had the opportunity to assess Smith at close quarters during the tournament, when the defender represented South Africa’s U20 side, known as Amajita.

Smith arrived at QPR after helping South Africa win the U20 Africa Cup of Nations and then playing a prominent role at the U20 FIFA World Cup. Those performances helped him secure a move from Stellenbosch to the English Championship.

However, with only four senior appearances for QPR so far, the switch to Major League Soccer is intended to provide the young defender with more regular first-team football and a platform to develop his career.

The proposed move would also see Smith play in a league where South African defenders Olwethu Makhanya and Mbekezeli Mbokazi have begun to make an impression. Makhanya was formerly with Philadelphia Union, while Mbokazi is also beginning to attract attention in the competition.

For Smith, the season-long arrangement offers the possibility of a longer-term stay in the United States if he can establish himself at New England Revolution. The option to make the transfer permanent means the loan could become a full move after the upcoming campaign.

His next step comes after a period in which he moved from domestic football in South Africa to the English professional game, while continuing to build his reputation through international age-group football.

The agreement remains subject to the completion of the move, but Smith is expected to begin a new chapter in Major League Soccer after a limited first-team run at QPR.

Report by Lorenz Kohler.