Manchester City's sister club Troyes have confirmed the permanent signing of defender Erik Palmer-Brown two days after the transfer deadline.
City had a relatively quiet transfer window, but saw Julian Alvarez's deal confirmed on transfer deadline day as well as four permanent exits from the academy.
Defender Philippe Sandler's transfer to Feyenoord was announced on Tuesday, having gone through before the deadline but not announced, and now another late deal has been confirmed as American Palmer-Brown leaves City after four seasons.
The 24-year-old never made an appearance in a City shirt at any level, as he was loaned out to KV Kortrijk in Belgium shortly after arriving from Sporting Kansas City in January 2018. The centre-back made nine appearances before spending a year at NAC Breda in 2018/19, where he featured 18 times, scoring once.
A two-year spell at Austria Vienna was next, with Palmer-Brown playing 55 times and scoring twice. He made two appearances for the US men's national team, shortly after signing for City, but has only received one call-up since.
He spent the first half of this season on loan at City Football Group side Troyes, and the French side have made that transfer permanent on a deal until 2024, they announced on Wednesday.
They wrote: "ESTAC is pleased to formalize the signing of the contract for Erik Palmer-Brown, who is joining the Trojan club for two and a half seasons (June 2024). Initially on loan (June 2022) from Manchester City, the American central defender is definitely Trojan!
"Erik Palmer-Brown has played 355 minutes this season and was notably started in all three games after the winter break. ESTAC and Bruno Irles have placed their trust in the player, who wanted to register for the long term and evolve under the Trojan colors."
Troyes confirmed the transfer was completed before the January transfer deadline, meaning he is the latest City player to leave on a permanent deal.
A possible reason behind the deal was the incoming FIFA regulations surrounding loans, which limits clubs to eight players over the age of 21 at any one time from the start of next season. Palmer-Brown, who was out of contract at the end of the current campaign anyway, would have taken up one of those places were the rules in place this year.
