FC Dallas defender George John has completed a two-month loan switch to West Ham United, with the possibility that the deal could be made permanent in March.

The 24-year-old, whose proposed £1.2million transfer to Blackburn last summer fell through, is a former first-round SuperDraft pick and popular among punters’ soccer betting tips .

John has both an American and Greek passport, which makes him exempt from the work-permit process should the London-based club decide to make the move permanent.

“This is an opportunity for George to raise his play to another level,” said FC Dallas manager Schellas Hyndman.“He has the opportunity to spend time with a club rich in tradition, playing in one of the top leagues as they work to earn a promotion back to the Premiership. I have no doubt we will see an even better center back at the end of this period.”

John started 31 games for Dallas last year, scoring three times in what was his third season in MLS. In 2009 in featured in 16 matches for the club and a year later made 25 appearances.

He becomes the fifth American to play for the Hammers, following stints at Upton Park for John Harkes, Ian Feuer, Jonathan Spector and Sebastian Lletget.

Meanwhile, punters who bet on soccer games  may want to note that Dallas have moved quickly to replace John by snapping up the 22-year-old Colombian defender Hernan Pertuz from Independiente Medellín and North Carolina’s Matt Hedges.

Hedges, who has been described as a very similar player to John, spent three seasons at Butler before helping North Carlolina win the NCAA men's soccer title last year.