CHICAGO, Ill. (Friday, Dec. 13, 2013) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Friday that the club has acquired defender/midfielder Lovel Palmer from 2013 MLS Cup finalists Real Salt Lake in exchange for allocation money. Per MLS and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re pleased to welcome Lovel to the Fire,” said Fire Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop. “He is a versatile, experienced player who will be instrumental in building a deep squad to compete in 2014.”

Palmer joins the Fire after one season with Real Salt Lake. Selected in Stage 2 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 14, 2012, Palmer made 17 appearances and tallied one assist in regular season play, and made three post-season appearances as RSL reached the 2013 MLS Cup.

The Mandeville, Jamaica product began his professional career with Jamaican First Division side Harbour View FC in 1999, appearing in 143 matches. Palmer joined MLS in March 2010 when he was signed by the Houston Dynamo. In one-and-a-half seasons with the Dynamo, Palmer scored three goals and tallied one assist across 45 appearances. On July 21, 2011, Palmer was traded to the Portland Timbers where he would appear 34 times and tally one assist.

A Jamaican youth international, Palmer made his senior national team debut in 2005 and has since earned 24 caps.