Report: New York City FC sends Frank Lampard to Manchester City for 6-month loan spell

You probably didn't see this coming after Frank Lampard left the Premier League in favor of a move to Major League Soccer earlier this month.

The English midfielder, recently signed by nascent club New York City FC, has reportedly been sent back to his homeland. According to The Guardian, the 36-year-old will join Manchester City on a six-month loan before returning to New York in time for the club's expansion season in 2015.

The American club is owned by Manchester City (and the New York Yankees), and the Citizens' chief executive Ferran Soriano has recently admitted that players could be sent between the two teams as part of that partnership. That said, it was expected that City would use the MLS side to groom promising youngsters, not house veterans while they wait for their first match to arrive next year.

While it will be incredibly odd to see Lampard wearing a different shade of blue in the Premier League, the move does make plenty of sense for both sides. New York ensures that their marquee signing remains fit ahead of next season, and City gets a players who, despite his advanced age, remains a legitimate midfield option off the bench - he scored six goals in 26 league appearances with Chelsea just last season.

The Guardian also notes that City will register Lampard for their Champions League campaign, and that they hope to have him with the squad ahead of Sunday's Community Shield match against Arsenal.