Dynamo's Cameron Is Ready for His Big Move Geoff Cameron didn't take long to endear himself to Houston Dynamo's fans after being selected in Major League Soccer's 2008 draft. His first professional start in the Dynamo's home opener that April saw Dallas leading, 3-2, at Robertson Stadium as the clock ticked into stoppage time. A small band of traveling fans wearing red-and-white jerseys nestled among a sea of orange taunted their Texas rivals as Cameron picked up the ball on the left of midfield. The rookie found Brian Ching at the edge of the Dallas penalty area. Cameron did not pause. He did not stand watching as the Dynamo striker battled against two defenders. He surged forward, following his pass, anticipating that something might happen. Ching squeezed the ball between his markers, sparking a race between the galloping debutant and Dallas defender Adrian Serioux. Cameron got there fractionally before his opponent, giving him just enough time to lash a shot high into goalkeeper Dario Sala's net to salvage a point for his new team. "That was a pretty fantastic introduction for him into the league," said Wade Barrett, Houston's assistant coach and former captain. Cameron, who turned 27 last Wednesday, could be playing his his final game for the Dynamo, Sunday against D.C. United, after England's Premier League club Stoke City submitted a $2.7 million bid for the United States national team player. The Houston's president Chris Canetti said the club is in favor of the transfer, and M.L.S. is expected to reach a decision in the next few days. Cameron's ascent to one of the world's top leagues comes as no surprise to those who have contributed to his development. "He's worked hard every single year to get better and that work has gotten him to where he is now," Barrett said. The defender's journey has not been without its diversions. Cameron's versatility saw him being shuttled around Houston's line-up, from across the midfield line to the defense and even occasionally up front, during his first two years. A knee injury derailed his 2010 season just as he was establishing himself as an integral part of the Dynamo's back line uncer Coach Dominic Kinnear. Cameron's talent was never in doubt. His former coaches at West Virginia University and University of Rhode Island recite a list of positive attributes including his size, mobility, astute decision-making, wide range of passing and strength in the air. Still, his name did not get called during the 2008 college draft until Houston selected him with the 42nd pick. "I always felt like he was a sleeper," said John O'Connor, Cameron's coach at Rhode Island. "Nobody thought Rajon Rondo was going to be so great for the Boston Celtics in the N.B.A. and look where he is," O'Connor said. I think Geoff was a little bit like that. People liked him but they weren't sure they wanted to take a chance on him. That was partly because Cameron was playing for Rhode Island, O'Connor believes. He was named as the Atlantic 10 Conference's midfielder of the year during his senior season in 2007, but that did not carry the same clout as graduating from one of Division I college soccer's stronger divisions. D.C. United showed some interest, according to O'Connor, and New England Revolution - whose Gillette Stadium is a short drive from Cameron's childhood home in Attleboro, Mass. - watched him a lot. "But nobody was willing to take a chance on him except Dominic Kinnear and the staff at Houston," O'Connor said. It turned out to be a perfect fit, according to Drexler University men's assistant coach Bryan Green, an assistant at West Virginia during Cameron's two years in Morgantown. Green remembers Cameron as a humble, hard-working soccer junkie who would be first onto the training field, taking out the practice balls and rounding up his teammates to play. "That's the kind of player that Dominic wants around," Barrett said. Some of these individual honors that Geoff's receiving now and the interest he's getting from elsewhere all come as a result of working hard for the team. Should M.L.S. accept Stoke's offer, Cameron could meet up with his new teammates during the English club's coming U.S. tour. The Potters play Columbus Crew, Orlando City and Sporting Kansas City between July 24 and Aug. 1. Stoke's Premier League campaign begins at newly promoted Reading on Aug. 18. Games against Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United quickly follow - a significant step up in class to what Cameron has encountered in M.L.S.. "Geoff's improved every year and I don't suspect that will stop," Barrett said. I think he can handle the speed of play. His pace is good, his range is good, and he's good in the air. You need to be good at all of those things to succeed in the Premier League. Ian Thomson is a free-lance soccer writer and founder of The Soccer Observer Web site. Follow him on Twitter at @SoccerObserver.