NEW DELHI: India international striker Sunil Chhetri is all set to sign a contract with Major League Soccer side Kansas City Wizards in next couple of days ahead of the MLS season.

All India Football Federation sources, who were closely involved with Chhetri’s trial for the American side, said the India international will sign a contract before Kansas City play their first MLS match on Saturday.

"Chhetri will sign on the dotted lines in the next couple of days before Kansas City’s first match (against DC United) on Saturday. KS have a pre-MLS formal press conference on Thursday and his contract may be announced there," an AIFF source said.

Chhetri will become the third Indian player to ply trade in a professional league abroad after Mohamed Salim and current national captain Bhaichung Bhutia.

Salim played for Scottish side Celtic in pre-independence days of India while Bhaichung was with English

Championship side Bury FC in the second division.

The 25-year-old from Delhi, who has donned India colours around 40 times, shot into prominence with his his hat-trick in the AFC Challenge Cup finals against Tajikistan in 2008 which ensured the country a berth in the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Chhetri had already secured a release from his I-League club Dempo before going for the trials in Kansas City.

He had an unsuccessful trial with English Championship side Coventry City last year. He was about to sign for another English Championship side Queens Park Rangers last year but could not do it as he could not get the work permit to ply
trade in England.

Overseas doors could open for other Indian players: Houghton

Meanwhile, national football coach Bob Houghton on Wednesday said striker Sunil Chhetri joining United States Major League Soccer side Kansas City Wizards will open the doors for other Indian players to ply trade overseas.

"The move will make a lot of difference to Sunil Chhetri. He is fulfilling his ambition to go and play at international level," Houghton said at the sidelines of India International Sports Summit.

"If he had obtained a work permit he could have been playing in Europe. I would have liked him to play in Europe as the standard is better. But this is a great move for Sunil (to play in MLS)," he said.

"His move should inspire more players to play abroad," he added.

Houghton said though the national team will miss Chhetri in its preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup, his progress in the US will be
closely monitored.