[MLS] In the wake of trading Jamaican midfielder Lovel Palmer to Portland, Houston has signed center mid Luiz Camargo.

Camargo, 24, comes to MLS on loan from Clube Paraná in the Brazilian second division. Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear spotted Camargo during a scouting trip to Brazil in January but was unable to acquire him during the primary U.S. transfer window that closed in mid-April. Houston is awaiting issuance of his P-1 visa and receipt of his international transfer certificate. Terms of the release were not disclosed .

 “I liked the way he played when I saw him,” said Kinnear. “He can play in central midfield and gives us some options and flexibility in there.”

Camargo (5-foot-8, 172 pounds) was born in Vinheda, Sao Paulo. He has played for Mogi Mirim, Red Bull Brasil, Sao Paulo and Paulista prior to signing with Clube Parana.

“He has pace and can close down space and uses the ball well,” Kinnear said. “He was very good in man-to-man marking, and I liked the way he played the game. He kept the ball and played very simple.”

The signing comes shortly after Honduran attacker Carlo Costly was signed on loan; he debuted as a sub last weekend in a 1-1 tie with Philadelphia.

Houston is well-stocked in central midfield despite the trade of Palmer, with Adam Moffat, Je-Vaughn Watson and Geoff Cameron on the roster, but Kinnear is looking for greater depth as well as more variety as Houston pushes for the playoffs. A record of 6-7-10 puts the Dynamo just out of the playoff tier as the 11th-placed team in the overall standings.

“I think he’ll be a good addition to the team with a lot of games coming up,” Kinnear said. “If he brings what we saw in Brazil here, I think he’ll be a nice addition.