Transfer Rumor: Orlando City Linked to Huddersfield Striker Martin Paterson

The January transfer rumor mill continues to grind on.

With a single tweet, Amy Lewis of Sky Sports has linked Orlando City SC to 27-year-old Northern Ireland striker Martin Paterson, currently with Huddersfield Town FC in England’s Football League Championship (a league below the Premier League). In fact, Lewis says her sources are telling her Paterson is coming to Orlando tomorrow.

So…who is this guy?

According to the team’s website, Paterson has no appearances with the club this season. He has been loaned to third tier sides Bristol City and Fleetwood Town this year, scoring one goal in 11 appearances. He had his Fleetwood Town loan cut short by injury.

Paterson scored five goals in 25 games with Huddersfield last season.

Before joining Huddersfield, Paterson played 130 games with Burnley FC from 2008-2013, scoring 29 goals. He led the Clarets in scoring in his first season of 2008-09 with 19 goals in all competitions and helped Burnley reach the League Cup semifinals and earn promotion to the Premier League by defeating Sheffield United in a playoff at Wembley Stadium.

Previously, Paterson played 15 games with Stoke City from 2005-2007, scoring one goal. In 2006-07, he scored six goals in 15 games while on loan with Grimsby Town and then spent 2007-08 with Scunthorpe United, where he posted 13 goals in 40 games.

He has also featured for Northern Ireland’s national team, scoring three international goals in 22 appearances.

Orlando City has two open international slots. On the surface, Paterson seems like a bit of a reclamation project as a striker, similar to Danny Mwanga and Jairo Arrieta. It’s curious to think the club would spend a valuable international slot on him.

Let’s hear from a Huddersfield fan:

Well, that’s not encouraging.

Paterson isn’t the only Huddersfield player involved in Orlando City rumors of late. How about Steven Gerrard’s cousin?

We’ll keep an eye open to see if these rumors have any meat on them.