Winston Reid has joined Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City on loan.

An announcement on the official Hammers website reveals that the 31 year old will link up with the MLS outfit  ahead of the start of their 2020 season next month.

Sporting Kansas City have played in the United States’ top league since 1996, winning two championships in 2000 and 2013.

They have also lifted the US Open Cup on four occasions and begin their campaign with a trip to Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday 1 March.

Reid, West Ham United’s second longest-serving player behind skipper Mark Noble, has not played a competitive first team game since March 2018 due to a serious knee injury and will now look to gain valuable game time in Kansas City.

ClaretandHugh says: Incredibly, Winston still has three and a half years left on his Hammers contract perhaps demonstrating the folly of handing out six year deals to players as they head into their late 20s. However, right now our thoughts are solely with the central defender as he bids to somehow resurrect a career which would appear to be over at the highest level. At his best Winston is an outstanding defender and we hope he can get the games and fitness he needs to remain in the ptofessional football for a few years yet. Sadly, he has been unable to complete the two games he has managed at under 23 level since ‘ recovering’ from his severely damaged knee, sustained at Swansea back in 2018. His courage and tenacity in trying to return is admirable and we all hope he makes it. We wish him every success as he heads off to the States.