Sporting Kansas City (0-2-0, 0 pts.) is back on the road this weekend when the team heads to the nation’s capital to take on D.C. United (0-0-2, 2 pts.) at Audi Field.
Sporting has not faced D.C. since late in the 2022 campaign when Peter Vermes’ side cruised to a 3-0 victory at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 13, 2022. Khiry Shelton gave Sporting an early lead on the night before Robert Voloder and Daniel Salloi made the points safe in the second half.
One must go back even further for Sporting’s most recent and only visit to Audi Field - taking place almost six years ago on May 12, 2019. The hosts claimed a narrow 1-0 victory that night behind Paul Arriola’s stunning late winner against an injuryravaged Sporting side that was missing 10 first team players and was only able to dress four substitutes.
Sporting have struggled against D.C. over their most recent meetings, winning just two of their last nine. Since the start of 2014, Sporting has gone 2-4-3 across against D.C., including a 0-2-3 mark on the road.
The all-time regular-season series is currently deadlocked at 22-22-13.
#DCvSKC: Recent Meetings (Series tied 22-22-13 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
09/13/2022
05/12/2019
03/31/2018
03/04/2017
05/27/2016
KC 3 vs DC 0 W Shelton, Voloder and Salloi score in comfortable victory
KC 0 at DC 1 L Paul Arriola scores late winner to sink injury-ravaged SKC
KC 1 vs DC 0 W Felipe Gutierrez scores early to give SKC all three points
KC 0 at DC 0 T Tim Melia saves first-half penalty as opener ends scoreless
KC 0 vs DC 1 L Alhaji Kamara scores in the final five minutes
#DCvSKC: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Khiry Shelton has two goals and four assists against D.C. Shelton scored the game-winner in the 3-0 home win on Sept. 13, 2022 and also recorded the game-winning assist in Sporting’s 1-0 victory over D.C. on March 31, 2018. The other goal and three assists all ame as a member of New York City FC in 2016.
• Forward Daniel Salloi has scored once against D.C., coming in the 3-0 home win on Sept. 13, 2022.
• Defender Robert Voloder has one goal against D.C., tallying his first goal for the club in the 3-0 home win on Sept. 13, 2022.
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez has scored twice against D.C., both coming as a member of the Houston Dynamo in a 3-1 road win on July 22, 2017 and a 2-1 home win on May 18, 2019.
• Defender Andrew Brody has tallied one assist against D.C., coming as a member of Real Salt Lake in a 2-1 road win on June 17, 2023.
• Forward Mason Toye has one assist against D.C., coming as a member of CF Montreal on the game-winning goal in a 3-2 road win on November 8, 2020.
#DCvSKC: PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Midfielder Jacob Bartlett is in line to face off against older brother and D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett on Saturday night.
• Defender Andrew Brody was teammates with D.C. defender Aaron Herrera at Real Salt Lake and Real Monarchs from 2018-2022. Brody also played alongside D.C. forward Fidel Barajas at RSL in 2024.
• Forward Mason Toye played with D.C. defender Aaron Herrera (2022-2023) and midfielder Rida Zouhir (2021-2024) at CF Montreal.
• Goalkeeper Ryan Schewe played with D.C. defender Jacob Murrell at Georgetown University from 2022-2023. Schewe also played with D.C. defender Derek Dodson at Georgetown from 2020-2021.
• Former Sporting KC midfielder Alex Martinez is now an assistant coach with D.C. United. Martinez tallied one goal in 11 appearances for Sporting in 2014.
#DCvSKC: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Sporting ranks third in MLS in progressive passes (104) and fourth in progressive carries (41). Progressive passes and carries advance the ball 10 yards closer to the opponent’s goal line or into the penalty area.
• Sporting leads MLS with 13 switches, passes that travel more than 40 yards of the width of the pitch.
• Sporting ranks fourth in MLS in touches in the attacking third per game (192).
• Sporting ranks second in MLS in dribbles into the attacking third (33) and third in dribbles into the penalty area (12).
• Sporting is tied for the MLS lead with eight yellow cards through Week 2.
• Sporting opened the 2025 campaign with a stretch of four matches in 11 days from Feb. 19 to March 1, including both legs of a Concacaf Champions Cup Round One showdown with Inter Miami CF.
• Prior to playing three times from Feb. 19-25, Sporting had never played three competitive matches in seven days during the month of February.
• The month of February saw Sporting play its earliest competitive match in club history (Feb. 19) and its earliest MLS match in club history (Feb. 22).
• Sporting’s 1.5 goals per match during the 2024 regular season were the club’s fourth most since Peter Vermes became manager in 2009 (Sporting had more goals per match in 2018, 2020 and 2021).
• Sporting has won each of its last seven matches in all competitions when scoring at least twice, dating back to June 29, 2024.
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Forward Dejan Joveljic scored Sporting’s first goal of the MLS season and his first goal for the club in last Saturday’s 2-1 home loss to the San Jose Earthquakes, taking him to 50 goal contributions (35 goals, 15 assists) in MLS regular-season play.
• Through Week 2, midfielder Manu Garcia leads MLS in shot-creating actions (14) while ranking fourth in progressive passes (19), fourth in successful takeons (six) and ninth in successful passes into the penalty area (five).
• Through Week 2, forward Shapi Suleymanov ranks second in MLS in progressive passes received (30) and fifth in carries into the penalty area (six).
D.C. United Team Notes
• D.C. has missed the MLS Cup Playoffs in each of the last five seasons, the second-longest active drought in MLS behind Chicago Fire FC (seven seasons). D.C. last reached the playoffs in 2019 and last won a playoff match in 2015.
• D.C. finished with a 10-14-10 record last season, placing 10th in the Western Conference and losing out on the ninth and final playoff spot to Atlanta by virtue of the goal differential tiebreaker.
• D.C. has finished with a losing record in each of the last five MLS seasons
• D.C. went 6-3-2 in its final 11 MLS matches from July 13 onward last season.
• D.C. is the only Eastern Conference team to open the 2025 season with a pair of draws, tying Toronto 2-2 in Week 1 and Chicago Fire FC by the same scoreline in Week 2.
• D.C. took early 1-0 leads in each of its first two matches this season, scoring after eight minutes in Week 1 and after four minutes in Week 2.
• D.C. is one of four MLS teams (Chicago, Orlando, Toronto) to both score and concede multiple goals in each of its first two matches.
D.C. United Player Notes
• Forward Christian Benteke won the 2024 MLS Golden Boot award by scoring a league-high 23 goals last season. Benteke has 40 goals in 70 regular season appearances since joining D.C. in 2022 and has scored in each of D.C.’s first two matches this season. Benteke has led MLS in aerial duels won in each of the last two regular seasons.
• Midfielder Gabriel Pirani ranked second on D.C. with six goals last season, his first full MLS campaign.
• Defender Lucas Bartlett led D.C. in minutes played last season (2,741) while adding two goals and four assists. He played 14 total matches across his first two MLS seasons before starting in 31 of 32 appearances last season.
• Defender Aaron Herrera ranked third on D.C. last season in both assists (eight) and key passes (39).
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Defender Robert Voloder is one shy of his 50th regular season appearance for Sporting.
• Midfielder Nemanja Radoja is 76 minutes shy of 5,000 career minutes played for Sporting in all competitions.
SEARCHING FOR FIRST POINTS OF 2025
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
Sporting Kansas City is still looking to pick up the club’s first points of the 2025 campaign, falling to 0-2-0 (0 pts.) on the season following last Saturday’s frustrating 2-1 defeat to San Jose in the team’s MLS home opener at Children’s Mercy Park.
Sporting is one of four teams yet to pick up a point so far this season, joined by reigning MLS Cup champions the LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo FC and CF Montreal. Saturday’s opponents D.C. United are also searching for their first win of the nascent season, having drawn their opening two matches of the season by a 2-2 scoreline - at home against Toronto FC on Feb. 22 and on the road at Chicago Fire FC on March 1.
Sporting is looking to build on the promising performances of the club’s attacking newcomers Dejan Joveljic, who scored his first goal for the club last Saturday, Manu Garcia, who ranks first in the league in shot creating actions this season (14), and Shapi Suleymanov, who ranks second in MLS in progressive passes received (30).
Sporting is desperate to curtail a nine-game losing streak dating back to the closing stages of the 2024 campaign, having last won a match on Sept. 18, 2024 - a 4-1 home victory over the Colorado Rapids.
RETURNING TO AUDI FIELD FOR FIRST VISIT IN SIX YEARS
Sporting Kansas City travels east this weekend to take on D.C. United in the club’s first visit to Audi Field in almost six years when the sides face off on Saturday night.
Sporting last visited the nation’s capital for a match on May 12, 2019, which to this day is still the club’s only match played at Audi Field which opened in 2018 after D.C. had hosted the opening 22 years of their existence at the now-defunct RFK Stadium. Paul Arriola scored a late winner that night as Sporting was in the throes of a burgeoning injury crisis - only dressing 15 players with 10 first team players out.
The most recent meeting between the two sides took place at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 13, 2022. In a late-season contest, Sporting ran out comfortable 3-0 victors behind goals from Khiry Shelton, Robert Voloder and Daniel Salloi.
The all-time regular-season series between the two sides is currently deadlocked at 22-22-13, though Sporting trails 6-14-8 on the road with their last victory coming almost 13 years ago on March 10, 2012.
JOVELJIC OFF THE MARK IN SPORTING BLUE
Sporting Kansas City forward Dejan Joveljic got off the mark for his new club this past weekend, scoring his first goal for Sporting KC in the 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
Joveljic, who arrived in Kansas City in the first-ever cash-for-player trade in MLS history on Feb. 1, 2025, registered for the first time since tallying the game-winner in the 2024 MLS Cup on Dec. 7, 2024. The Serbian frontman has enjoyed facing the Earthquakes during his time in MLS, as he has scored more goals against San Jose than any other MLS team - tallying seven goals to go along with two assists.
The goal marked Joveljic’s 50th goal contribution in MLS regular-season play (35 goals, 15 assists). By converting the penalty, Joveljic scored Sporting’s first penalty in five attempts across all competitions since Johnny Russell scored the opener in a 2-1 home victory over Houston on Sept. 23, 2023.
REUNION ON DECK FOR BARTLETT FAMILY
Sporting KC Academy product Jacob Bartlett is set for a momentous moment this weekend when the team travels to the east coast to take on D.C. United at Audi Field.
Bartlett - who has started all four of Sporting’s matches so far in 2025 - could face off against older brother and D.C. defender Lucas Bartlett on Saturday night. Jacob and Lucas are one of eight pairs of brothers currently playing in MLS:
• Jacob Bartlett (SKC) and Lucas Bartlett (DC)
• Isaiah Jones (NSH) and Malachi Jones (NYC)
• Dylan Nealis (NY) and Sean Nealis (NY)
• Hugo Mbongue (TOR) and Ralph Priso (VAN)
• Alex Roldan (SEA) and Cristian Roldan (SEA)
• Jared Stroud (DC) and Peter Stroud (NY)
• Cavan Sullivan (PHI) and Quinn Sullivan (PHI)
• Owen Wolff (ATX) and Tyler Wolff (RSL)
Bartlett comes from an accomplished soccer family and is the third sibling to reach the professional ranks. Alec Bartlett, his oldest brother, played for the USL’s Charlotte Independence in 2016 while Lucas, his other brother, is entering his fourth MLS season and his second year with D.C. United after previous spells with FC Dallas (2022) and St. Louis (2023). His sister, Grace Bartlett, plays collegiately at Grand Canyon University.
LONGTIME SKC DEFENDER FONTAS RETIRES
Former Sporting KC defender Andreu Fontas announced his retirement from professional soccer last Friday following a 17-year career at the highest levels of the sport, including a decade in his native Spain, seven MLS seasons in Kansas City and 369 total club appearances. Fontas and his family were formally honored during a halftime ceremony at Sporting’s MLS home opener against San Jose last Saturday.
Fontas made 147 appearances for Sporting in all competitions from 2018-2024, helping the club to four playoff appearances as one of the best ball-playing defenders in MLS. In three combined regular seasons from 2021-2023, he led MLS in total passes, successful passes and touches while leading SKC in interceptions and clearances.
In four combined seasons from 2021-2024, Fontas also led all MLS center backs in goals added, an advanced metric that measures a player’s total on-ball contribution in attack and defense.
JAMES, 16, BECOMES SECOND YOUNGEST SKC DEBUTANT
Sporting Kansas City Academy product Ian James enjoyed a momentous personal moment during Sporting’s 3-1 loss to Inter Miami CF at Chase Stadium last Tuesday night - becoming the second youngest player to make his debut in club history.
James, 16, signed with Sporting as a Homegrown player during the offseason after playing for the club’s U-14s through U-19s youth levels and broke into the U.S. U-16 and U-17 Men’s National Teams in 2024.
Last Tuesday night, James replaced Dany Rosero in the 84th minute to play the first six minutes of his burgeoning professional career. By making his professional debut at the tender age of 16 years and 262 days, James became the second youngest debutant in Sporting history, only trailing fellow Academy product Gianluca Busio who made his debut at the age of 16 years and nine days in an Open Cup match on June 6, 2018.
QUOTES: #SKCvSJ POSTGAME
Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes
Thoughts on the match…
“In the first half, they scored two and then we get back in it with the penalty. I also thought that maybe we were going to get one more right before the half at the very end. And then we go up the man and they bunkered in pretty well. We just didn’t find enough. At this point as a team, we just didn’t find enough. And it didn’t help us having to make the changes that we had to. We’re taking guys out because of yellow cards. I didn’t want to put them under, but I thought there was a good rhythm within the group but we couldn’t take the risk.”
On the goals conceded…
“The set piece, we actually spent time on that. They scored a goal this past week in the same way -- the same area, the same situation. The only difference is a guy flicked it on. This one bounced around. That one’s a little more difficult. The other one, we have two guys collide. We have to be in a little bit better position than the others. We got split in the midfield too easily, especially when their guy had a chance to turn. But it still puts us down. We’re catching up. We had momentum. We got back in there. We just couldn’t get the second one.”
On if the schedule congestion had an impact…
“I don’t know if I would say that. It’s never easy breaking down a team that is in a low block. It just never is. When we had to make our changes, I think we lost a little bit of rhythm of the group. I wouldn’t say that we didn’t have another gear. I just think that it was hard to break them down and we’re just early on in the season. It’s a little difficult.”
On the play of Shapi Suleymanov, Dejan Joveljic and Manu Garcia…
“It’s a good build as we keep going because they really haven’t been with us. It’s another good step for them. We would like to have gotten more out of the game tonight.”
Sporting Park
04/05/2013
SPORTING KANSAS CITY 2025 TRANSACTION TRACKER
Players In Players Out
DEF - Ian James (Signed as Homegrown Player - Dec. 6, 2024)
GK - Jack Kortkamp (Signed as Homegrown Player - Dec. 6, 2024)
MID - Jacob Bartlett (Signed as Homegrown Player - Jan. 9, 2025)
MID - Danny Flores (Option Declined - Nov. 14, 2024)
MID - Remi Walter (Out of Contract - Nov. 14, 2024)
FWD - Johnny Russell (Out of Contract - Nov. 14, 2024)
FWD - Alan Pulido (Transfered to Chivas Guadalajara - Jan. 7, 2025)
FWD - Alenis Vargas (Waived - Feb. 21, 2025)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TRANSACTION TIMELINE
DATE IN/OUT DETAILS
Nov. 14: OUT Sporting KC declines options on defenders Robert Castellanos and Chris Rindov along with midfielders Ozzie Cisneros and Danny Flores. In addition, goalkeeper Tim Melia, defender Andreu Fontas, midfielder Remi Walter and forward Johnny Russell are out of contract.
Dec. 6: IN Sporting KC signs defender Ian James and goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp as Homegrown Players out of the Sporting KC Academy.
Jan. 7: OUT Sporting KC transfers forward Alan Pulido to Chivas Guadalajara (Mexico).
Jan. 9: IN Sporting KC signs midfielder Jacob Bartlett as a Homegrown Player, who had just completed his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame.
Jan. 13: IN Sporting KC signs free agent forward Mason Toye, most recently with the Portland Timbers (MLS).
Feb. 1: IN Sporting KC acquires forward Dejan Joveljic in a $4 million cash-for-player trade with the LA Galaxy (MLS).
Feb. 3: IN Sporting KC acquires midfielder Manu Garcia and forward Shapi Suleymanov in transfer from Aris Thessaloniki (Greece).
Feb. 13: IN Sporting KC signs defender Jansen Miller, the club’s first round pick (8th overall) in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft out of Indiana University.
Feb. 20: IN Sporting KC acquires defender Andrew Brody off waivers from Real Salt Lake (MLS).
Feb. 21: OUT Sporting KC places forward Alenis Vargas on waivers.
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
2020 Khiry Shelton (12/9/19)
Logan Ndenbe (1/14/22)
Robert Voloder (1/19/22)
William Agada (6/23/22)
Erik Thommy (6/23/22)
2023 Stephen Afrifa (1st Round - #8) Nemanja Radoja (10/26/22)
Tim Leibold (1/12/23)
Dany Rosero (3/2/23)
2024 Ryan Schewe (1st Round - #22) Zorhan Bassong (12/12/23)
Joaquin Fernandez (8/13/24)
2025 Jansen Miller (1st Round - #8) Manu Garcia (2/3/25)
Shapi Suleymanov (2/3/25)
Memo Rodriguez (2/1/24)
Mason Toye (1/13/25)
Dejan Joveljic (2/1/25)
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)
John Pulskamp (2/24/20)
Jake Davis (8/19/21)
Ian James (12/6/24)
Jack Kortkamp (12/6/24)
Jacob Bartlett (1/9/25)
Andrew Brody (2/20/25)
2025 VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
2025 Regular-Season Record When...
Scoring first goal 0-0-0
Conceding first goal 0-2-0
Leading at halftime 0-0-0
Tied at halftime 0-1-0
Trailing at halftime 0-1-0
Scoring 0 goals 0-1-0
Scoring 1 goal
Scoring 2 goals
Scoring 3 goals
Scoring 4+ goals
Allowing 0 goals
Allowing 1 goal 0-1-0
Allowing 2 goals 0-1-0
Allowing 3 goals 0-0-0
Allowing 4+ goals 0-0-0
Wearing Sporting blue 0-2-0
Wearing Argyle 0-0-0
Wearing Wizards 0-0-0
Leading at 75’
Tied at 75’
Trailing at 75’
Outshooting opponent 0-1-0
Outshot by opponent
Shots even 0-0-0
Shutouts 0-0-0
One-goal games 0-2-0
Day games (before 5 p.m.) 0-0-0
Games
With SKC red card 0-0-0
With opponent red card 0-1-0
In Pacific time zone 0-0-0
In Mountain time zone
In Eastern time zone 0-0-0 vs. Western Conference 0-2-0 vs. Eastern Conference 0-0-0
On grass 0-2-0 On turf 0-0-0
Regular Season Record By Month
Feb. 2025 0-1-0
Feb. all-time 1-3-1
March 2025 0-1-0
March all-time 27-17-15
April 2025 0-0-0
April all-time 46-47-25
May 2025 0-0-0
May all-time 47-59-31
June 2025 0-0-0
June all-time 50-40-31
July 2025 0-0-0
July all-time 61-50-33
Aug. 2025 0-0-0
Aug. all-time 57-55-22
Sept. 2025 0-0-0
Sept. all-time 44-56-24
Oct. 2025 0-0-0
Oct. all-time 34-23-19
Nov. 2025 0-0-0
Nov. all-time 1-2-0
Regular Season Team-By-Team (in 2025)
vs. Atlanta United FC 1-2-1 (0-0-0)
vs. Austin FC 3-6-1 (0-1-0)
vs. Charlotte FC 0-0-0 (0-0-0)
vs. Chicago Fire FC 19-28-12 (0-0-0)
vs. Colorado Rapids 30-27-19 (0-0-0)
vs. Columbus Crew 26-23-9 (0-0-0)
vs. D.C. United 22-22-13 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Cincinnati 1-0-1 (0-0-0)
vs. FC Dallas 29-31-14 (0-0-0)
vs. Houston Dynamo FC 14-14-16 (0-0-0)
vs. Inter Miami CF 0-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. Los Angeles FC 4-7-2 (0-0-0)
vs. LA Galaxy 26-28-18 (0-0-0)
vs. Minnesota United FC 11-7-4 (0-0-0)
vs. CF Montreal 8-5-3 (0-0-0)
vs. Nashville SC 2-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. NE Revolution 25-20-12 (0-0-0)
vs. New York City FC 2-3-1 (0-0-0)
vs. New York Red Bulls 22-22-15 (0-0-0)
vs. Orlando City SC 3-3-2 (0-0-0)
vs. Philadelphia Union 6-6-7 (0-0-0)
vs. Portland Timbers 9-8-7 (0-0-0)
vs. Real Salt Lake 13-18-9 (0-0-0)
vs. St. Louis 1-3-2 (0-0-0)
vs. SJ Earthquakes 32-27-10 (0-1-0)
vs. Seattle Sounders FC 12-13-4 (0-0-0)
vs. Toronto FC 15-4-8 (0-0-0) vs. Vancouver Whitecaps 12-8-5 (0-0-0)
Regular Season Home, Away & Neutral
Overall All-time 370-353-201
2025 at home 0-1-0
All-time at home 241-126-93
six subs 0-0-0
2025 on road 0-1-0
SPORTING KC IN 2025 (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
SPORTING KC ALL-TIME WIN/LOSS RECORDS IN COMPETITIVE MATCHES
Feb. 22, 2025: Austin FC 1-0 Sporting KC MLS Game 1 | Q2 Stadium | Austin, TX Attendance: 20,738 Weather: 40 degrees and cloudy
Sporting KC (0-1-0, 0 pts.) 0 0
Austin FC (1-0-0, 3 pts.)
Sporting KC Austin FC
GK Pulskamp GK Stuver
D Davis D Desler (Fodrey 90’)
D Joaquin (Rosero 72’) D Cascante
D Voloder D Hines-Ike
D Ndenbe D Biro
M Bartlett (Garcia 46’) M Ilie (C) (Sabovic 78’)
M Radoja M Pereira
M Rodriguez (Bassong 73’) M Wolff (Rubio 78’)
F Salloi F Obrian (Gallagher 72’)
F Agada (Joveljic 46’) F Vazquez
F Thommy (C) (Shapi 84’) F Bukari
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Cleveland (GK)
SPORTING KC 2025 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP BOX SCORES
Feb. 19, 2025: Sporting KC 0-1 Inter Miami CF Round One Leg 1 | Children’s Mercy Park | Kansas City, KS Attendance: 15,178 Weather: 5 degrees and
Sporting KC
Sporting KC Inter Miami CF GK Pulskamp GK Ustari
D Davis D Weigandt
D Rosero (Joaquin 46’) D Lujan
D Voloder D Aviles
D Leibold (Ndenbe 62’) D Allen
M Bartlett M Allende (Picault 73’)
M Radoja M Redondo
M Rodriguez (Garcia 62’) M Busquets
F Salloi (Afrifa 83’) M Segovia (Cremaschi 79’)
F Joveljic (Agada 62’) F Messi (C)
F Thommy (C) F Suarez (Taylor 89’)
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Rios Novo (GK)
James Falcon Miller Sailor
Bassong Fray
Suleymanov Gressel
Toye Morales Vargas Ruiz Afonso
Scoring Summary: MIA - Lionel Messi 1 (Sergio Busquets 1, Noah Allen 1) 56’
Misconduct Summary:
SKC - Manu Garcia (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 74’
MIA - Federico Redondo (Yellow Card; Unsporting Behavior) 80’
Stats Summary SKC MIA
7 (3) 9 (1)
8 12
Feb. 25, 2025: Inter Miami CF 3 (4) - Sporting KC 1 (1) Round One Leg 2 | Chase Stadium | Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Attendance: 18,280
Weather: 68 degrees and clear
Sporting KC
Miami
Sporting KC Inter Miami CF GK Pulskamp GK Ustari
D Davis (Brody 74’) D Fray
D Rosero (James 84’) D Falcon (Lujan 80’)
D Voloder D Aviles (Allen 57’)
D Leibold D Alba
M Bartlett M Redondo
M Bassong M Busquets (Ruiz 81’)
M Garcia (Rodriguez 58’) M Segovia
F Shapi (Salloi 58’) F Messi (C) (Cremaschi 68’)
F Joveljic (Agada 58’) F Suarez (Taylor 81’)
F Thommy (C) F Allende
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Rios Novo (GK)
Ndenbe Hall
Radoja Martinez
Afrifa Sailor
Toye Gressel
Morales Afonso
Scoring Summary:
MIA - Lionel Messi 2 (Luis Suarez 1) 19’
MIA - Tadeo Allende 1 (Jordi Alba 1) 46+
MIA - Luis Suarez 1 (unassisted) 48+
SKC - Memo Rodriguez 1 (Jacob Bartlett 1) 63’
Misconduct Summary: None
SPORTING KC STARTERS BY POSITION (2025 REGULAR SEASON)
Formation: 4-3-3 (2 games)
Left forward
Erik Thommy 2
Left-center midfielder
Manu Garcia 1
Memo Rodriguez 1
Center forward
William Agada 1
Dejan Joveljic 1
Right forward
Daniel Salloi 1
Shapi Suleymanov 1
Right-center midfielder
Zorhan Bassong 1
Nemanja Radoja 1
Defensive midfielder
Jacob Bartlett 2
Left back
Tim Leibold 1
Logan Ndenbe 1
Left center back
Robert Voloder 2
Right center back
Joaquin Fernandez 2
Right back Jake Davis 2
NOTE: Charts do not account for players interchanging and/ or switching positions over the course of a match. Substitute players are not listed.
Goalkeeper
John Pulskamp 2
A leading independent children’s health organization dedicated to holistic care, translational research, educating caregivers and breakthrough innovation to create a world of well-being for all children, Children’s Mercy Kansas City began a 10-year partnership with Sporting KC in 2016. Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of care for children from birth through the age of 21. U.S. News & World Report has repeatedly ranked Children’s Mercy as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”
The comprehensive partnership between Sporting KC and Children’s Mercy Kansas City – which includes naming rights to Sporting KC’s world-class stadium, Children’s Mercy Park, as well as the Sporting KC II and Sporting KC Academy complex at Swope Soccer Village – is also at the forefront of Sporting’s state-of-the-art training ground at Compass Minerals National Performance Center. In a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a professional sports team, a national sports federation and a sports medicine provider, the facility opened in 2018 and features the Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center alongside Sporting Kansas City and U.S. Soccer.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is also the official health care and sports medicine provider for the Sporting Kansas City Academy and Compass Minerals National Performance Center as part of a multi-faceted partnership that focuses on the following three components to impact the local community:
1. Strengthening community
• The partnership directly supports The Victory Project, Sporting’s foundation to help children - including those with cancer and disabilities – through all of life’s challenges.
• Sporting KC players and staff engage with, encourage and inspire Children’s Mercy patients throughout the year during hospital visits and special events.
• FLEET, an innovative team of remote experience robots operated via an iPad, regularly attends Sporting KC home matches to provide an all-access interactive experience for patients at Children’s Mercy. Manufactured by Double Robotics, the robot allows users to enjoy two-way live audio and video captured from a 150-degree wide-angle lens while navigating to control their own VIP behind-the-scenes journey.
• Launched in 2018, the RED CARD campaign addresses one of the most significant social issues impacting children nationwide by empowering youth and adults to prevent and intervene in bullying. Through school assemblies and community-wide messaging, the RED CARD initiative aims to reach children, parents, teachers and coaches who have daily opportunities to create supportive environments and stop bullying in its tracks. In 2023 and 2024, Sporting and Children’s Mercy teamed up to provide 90 students at 30 local elementary and middle schools with SKC jerseys on National Random Acts of Kindness Day as part of a Kindness In The Schools (K.I.T.S.) initiative.
2. Improving access to pediatric-trained sports medicine
• The Children’s Mercy Sports Medicine Center at Village West is located inside Compass Minerals National Performance Center and offers a full range of sports medicine services, resources and programming for youth athletes. More than two million high-school athletes and 3.5 million children under age 14 are injured each year in the U.S. playing sports. Only a small percentage are treated by pediatric-trained sports medicine specialists who truly understand the youth’s growing body, developing brain and unique psychosocial stressors.
3. Protecting youth athletes and educating parents and coaches
• The partnership provides athletic training, rehabilitation and conditioning programs for the Sporting KC Academy’s six teams at Swope Soccer Village, which hosts Sporting KC II home matches as well as year-round athletic leagues, tournaments and other marquee events.
SPORTING KC AND CHILDREN’S MERCY KANSAS CITY CONTINUE TO IMPACT LOCAL COMMUNITY
PLAYER @ATX SJ @DC MIN LAFC @DAL STL POR @SJ @CIN LA
AFRIFA DNP UNAV
AGADA CF-45 DNP
BARTLETT DM-45 DM-56
BASSONG SUB-17 CM-77
BRODY UNAV SUB-34
DAVIS RB-90 RB-56
JOAQUIN CB-72 CB-90
GARCIA SUB-45 CM-90
JAMES DNP DNP
JOVELJIC SUB-45 CF-90
KORTKAMP UNAV SKCII
LEIBOLD DNP LB-56
MILLER INJ INJ
NDENBE LB-90 SUB-34
PULSKAMP GK-90 GK-90
RADOJA CM-90 SUB-34
RODRIGUEZ CM-73 SUB-13
ROSERO SUB-18 DNP
SALLOI RW-90 SUB-13
SCHEWE DNP DNP
SHELTON INJ INJ
SULEYMANOV SUB-6 RW-90
TOYE UNAV UNAV
THOMMY LW-84 LW-77
VOLODER CB-90 CB-90
PLAYER DAL CLT
AFRIFA AGADA
JOAQUIN
GARCIA
JAMES
JOVELJIC KORTKAMP
LEIBOLD
NDENBE PULSKAMP RADOJA
THOMMY
VOLODER
KEY
Position-Minutes - Starting Position-Minutes Played DNP - Unused Substitute
- Substitute-Minutes played UNAV - Unavailable For Selection
MANAGER | PETER VERMES
Peter Vermes is in his 17th season as Sporting Kansas City Manager in 2025 and is the longest-tenured active head coach in MLS. He is the team’s longest-serving manager and his 251 coaching victories in all competitions are the most club history. During his tenure, he has won four major trophies – the 2012, 2015 and 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups and the 2013 MLS Cup championship – and finished atop the Eastern Conference regularseason standings in 2011 and 2012, as well as the Western Conference in 2018 and 2020. His three U.S. Open Cup championships are the third most in Open Cup history. He is the first coach in club history to lead Sporting KC to eight straight postseason appearances, as well as the only person to ever win the MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team. His 203 regular-season wins top the club’s all-time chart and rank third most in MLS history. He passed his former coach Bob Gansler as the winningest manager in team history with a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 12, 2015, his 109th victory in all competitions.
On August 4, 2018, Vermes coached his 302nd MLS regular-season game with Sporting KC, becoming the league’s all-time leader in games coached for one club. He was named the first-ever MLS Sporting Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018. Vermes has coached 605 total games during his Kansas City coaching career, most in club history.
With over 16 years of service at Sporting KC, Vermes is one of the longest serving managers in world soccer. Among all leagues with an average attendance of 10,000+, Vermes ranks second, only behind Bundesliga side FC Heidenheim’s Frank Schmidt (Sept. 17, 2007 – present). Among the top 126 leagues in the world as denoted by the CIES Football Observatory, Vermes’ tenure ranks as the fifth longest active run.
Vermes oversees all soccer operations for Sporting KC, including the active roster, Sporting Kansas City II (MLS NEXT Pro) and the Sporting KC Academy. Vermes entered MLS ahead of its inaugural season in 1996 and retired from the league in 2002, closing out his playing career in Kansas City after stints with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Colorado Rapids.
Following a standout high school career in which he was named New Jersey Player of the Year, Vermes was a star forward and All-American at Rutgers University. After college, Vermes represented the United States in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, and was named 1988 Chevrolet U.S. Male Soccer Athlete of the Year for his efforts.
Vermes was an integral part of a young U.S. team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where he nearly scored against the host Azzurri. It was the first time the U.S. had qualified for the World Cup in 40 years and set the stage for the progress of the U.S. National Team. In 1989 and 1990, Vermes became the first American to play in the Hungarian and Dutch First Divisions, playing for Raba ETO and FC Volendam, respectively. He later spent five years with Figueres of the Spanish Second Division.
For MLS’s inaugural season in 1996, Vermes served as captain of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 1997, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids for current Sporting KC Assistant Coach Kerry Zavagnin and played in Denver through the 1999 season, leading the Rapids to the 1997 MLS Cup Final.
Vermes joined Kansas City in 2000 for what would be the most successful season of his MLS career. During his first year in Kansas City, he anchored one of the best defenses in league history and won MLS Defender of the Year honors in helping lead the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup Championship. He retired in 2002 after appearing in 209 MLS matches (including playoffs) and playing more than 18,000 minutes. In 2013, Vermes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
PETER VERMES HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC
SPORTING DIRECTOR | MIKE BURNS
Mike Burns joined Sporting KC as Sporting Director in June 2024. Burns oversees the team’s player recruitment and roster building strategy and the continued development of the club’s professional player pathway, including MLS NEXT Pro team Sporting Kansas City II and the SKC Academy. Burns spent 15 seasons on the New England Revolution’s technical staff from 2005-2019, during which time the club won four Eastern Conference championships and one U.S. Open Cup. The former MLS player and USMNT veteran - who notably played for the Kansas City Wizards from 2001-2002 - joined the Revolution front office as Director of Soccer before earning promotions to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2008 and to General Manager in 2011. From 2022-2023, Burns served as a consultant for Major League Soccer by supporting the league office in its continued growth of MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT. A native of Marlborough, Massachusetts, Burns played college soccer at Hartwick College in New York before embarking on a decorated playing career highlighted by seven seasons in MLS and 75 caps with the USMNT.
ASSISTANT COACH | KERRY ZAVAGNIN
Kerry Zavagnin currently holds the MLS record as he enters his 25th season with one club as a player or coach. Zavagnin first joined Kansas City in 2000 as a holding midfielder and was an integral part of the club’s midfield for the next nine seasons, during which time he helped lead the Wizards to MLS Cup (2000) and U.S. Open Cup (2004) Championships. He was named to the MLS All-Star team and the Best XI in 2004. Zavagnin’s primary duties as an assistant include scouting, developing Sporting Kansas City’s younger players, breaking down film and assisting with training sessions. He started his professional career with the MetroStars, where he played in 39 games over two seasons. After spending one season with the Lehigh Valley Steam (USL-1), Zavagnin came to KC in 2000. He played 237 games and logged 20,516 minutes for Kansas City, setting team records in both categories before being overtaken by Matt Besler early in 2018. He scored eight goals and added 22 assists in his nine seasons in KC. Zavagnin was named Team Defender of the Year in 2001. On top of his club success in Kansas City, Zavagnin also appeared 21 times for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He recorded one assist for the U.S., who went 15-2-4 when Zavagnin featured.
ASSISTANT COACH | ASH WALLACE
Ash Wallace has served on Sporting Kansas City’s technical staff since 2012, aiding the first team coaching staff in a variety of roles. Wallace, originally from England, assists in planning and executing training sessions and provides valuable analysis for coaches and players regarding strategy while helping scout and develop game plans for upcoming opponents. Wallace holds a U.S. Soccer A License. Wallace’s first involvement with the club came in August 2012 when he was contracted to produce a detailed scouting report on Seattle Sounders FC ahead of the U.S. Open Cup Final, helping Sporting claim their first of four major titles during a trophy-laden decade. Prior to joining Sporting KC, Wallace was a member of the Preston North End coaching staff and also served as an opposition scout for Fleetwood Town in his native England. Earlier in his career, he worked with Preston North End’s women’s academy teams and Penwortham Boys academy teams while earning a Degree in Sports Coaching from the University of Central Lancashire.
ASSISTANT COACH | ROGER ESPINOZA
Roger Espinoza joined the Sporting KC’s technical staff as a Professional Development Coach and first team assistant coach ahead of the 2025 season. In his role, Espinoza serves as an assistant coach for Sporting KC while also working with players on all three levels of the club’s professional player pathway – the first team, Sporting KC II and the Sporting KC Academy. Espinoza plays a leading role in the development of young players at the MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and Academy levels through individual training programs and ongoing mentorship off the field. Espinoza stepped into professional coaching after retiring as a player in the summer of 2024. He enjoyed a 16-year playing career highlighted by 14 seasons in Kansas City from 2008-2012 and 2015-2023. He helped Sporting to three U.S. Open Cup titles as one of the most accomplished players in club history and one of the longest-serving midfielders in MLS. From 2013-2014, Espinoza had a two-year stint at English side Wigan Athletic, scoring three goals in 57 appearances while gaining experience in the English Premier League and UEFA Europa League. On the international stage, Espinoza played 52 times for Honduras from 2009-2017, representing Honduras at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Espinoza also starred at the 2012 Summer Olympics in England – leading Honduras to the quarterfinals of the competition and scoring against Brazil at Wembley Stadium.
GOALKEEPER COACH | ALEC DUFTY
Alec Dufty is in his 10th season with Sporting Kansas City having been introduced to the organization as the Sporting KC II goalkeeper coach in the side’s inaugural season in 2016. In his first season working with the Sporting KC first team, starting goalkeeper Tim Melia enjoyed a recordbreaking season where he was named the 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. A former MLS player, Dufty began his playing career with the New York Red Bulls in 2009, making one appearance before joining the MLS reserve goalkeeper pool. In 2010, Dufty joined USSF D2 Pro League side AC St. Louis, making 30 appearances before returning to MLS with the Chicago Fire in late 2010. He announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 season. Dufty then took to coaching, first working with Florida Gulf Coast University and then the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2015, Dufty served as goalkeeper coach for Toronto FC II in their inaugural USL Championship season.
#30 | F | STEPHEN AFRIFA
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
College: Florida International University
Acquired: 2023
Birthday: 2/19/2001
MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8)
Forward Stephen Afrifa was selected by Sporting Kansas City as the eighth overall pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft before signing with the team at the conclusion of his senior year in April. He enjoyed a standout career at FIU, where he amassed 23 goals and 11 assists in 63 appearances from 2019-2022. He made his debut for Sporting on May 17, 2023 at LAFC before earning his first start at Austin on July 15, 2023. Afrifa scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 Open Cup win over FC Tulsa on May 21, 2024.
Capable of playing as a striker or a winger, Afrifa began his professional journey on the heels of a phenomenal campaign in 2022 that yielded a team-high 10 goals, four assists and USC Second Team All-American honors. He guided the Panthers to the 2022
American Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and was named the AAC Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player. Afrifa ended his senior season as a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist and a member of the USC All-East Region Team. As a freshman, Afrifa tallied three goals and three assists, and added two goals and an assist during his sophomore year. As a junior, Afrifa helped FIU make its first of two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances with eight goals and three assists.
On the international stage, Afrifa has earned two caps for the Canadian Men’s National Team. Afrifa made his international debut in a 2-1 win over the USMNT at Children’s Mercy Park on Sept. 7, 2024 before appearing against Mexico three days later.
#23 | F | WILLIAM AGADA
Height: 5-9
Weight: 185 Birthday: 9/17/1999
Hometown: Bauchi, Nigeria
Last Club: Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 6/23/2022
William Agada joined Sporting KC in a transfer from Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem in June 2022. A native of Nigeria, Agada scored 37 goals across four seasons in Israel before heading to the United States.
Agada, who has tallied 24 goals and six assists across 72 appearances in all competitions for Sporting, enjoyed an excellent start to life in Sporting Blue in 2022 - tallying eight goals and two assists in just 12 games before missing much of 2023 with a broken leg. He rebounded in 2024 to lead the team with 12 goals across all competitions.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 6 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL Assists 1, 5 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL Shots on Goal 5, 2 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots 10, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 7, Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Fouls Suffered 3, 4 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Last Regular Season... Appearance Feb. 22, 2025, KC at ATX
Goal Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Assist Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
Agada turned professional as an 18-year-old and bagged eight goals during his first season with Hapoel Jerusalem in 2018-2019. He doubled his goal haul the following year, scoring a team-best 15 times across 36 appearances in the Israeli second division.
Agada’s excellent 2019-2020 campaign paved the way for a loan to Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Premier League where he finished second on the team with six goals in 20202021. The 2021-2022 season saw Agada return to Hapoel Jerusalem, which had gained promotion to the Premier League and led the team with eight goals.
Height: 6-2
Weight: 160 Birthday: 10/7/2005
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas College: University of Notre Dame
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/9/2025
#16 | M | JACOB BARTLETT
Regular Season Game Highs:
Fouls Committed 1, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ Fouls Suffered 1, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Jacob Bartlett as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2025 campaign. Bartlett is the 22nd Homegrown Player to emerge from the Sporting KC Academy. Bartlett climbed the youth ranks in the SKC Academy, competing at the U-12 through U-19 levels, and represented Sporting KC II as an amateur player during the 2023 and 2024 MLS NEXT Pro seasons.
Bartlett joined the SKC Academy as an 11-year-old in 2017 and was part of the U-14 team that won the 2019 LA Galaxy Cup and placed second at the 2020 US Youth Futsal National Championships. Bartlett ascended to the U-15, U-17 and U-19 squads as a standout performer over the next three years, helping the U-19s to a 2023 UPSL regular
season division title. He signed his first amateur contract with SKC II in early 2023 and earned his MLS NEXT Pro debut that April with a start in central defense against FC Cincinnati 2.
TopDrawerSoccer tabbed Bartlett a top-50 prospect nationally and the No. 2 player in the Heartland Region ahead of his debut season with Notre Dame in 2024, where Bartlett played in 16 of the team’s 17 games. Bartlett’s oldest brother, Alec, played for the USL’s Charlotte Independence in 2016 while his other brother, Lucas, is entering his fourth MLS season and his second year with D.C. United. His sister, Grace, plays collegiately at Grand Canyon University.
#22 | M | ZORHAN BASSONG
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175 Birthday: 5/7/1999
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Last Club: Farul Constanta (Romania) Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/12/2023
Sporting Kansas City added midfielder Zorhan Bassong ahead of the 2024 campaign. The Canadian has previously spent time in France, Belgium, Romania and Major League Soccer, including 43 matches in all competitions with CF Montreal. He played two MLS seasons in Montreal from 2021-2022 before spending 2023 in Romania with Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta. Bassong - who can play in midfield or at left back - has made 28 appearances for Sporting in all competitions, tallying one assist.
Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, Bassong moved to Belgium in 2013 to join the Mouscron academy. Bassong furthered his development in the heralded academy systems at Belgian side Anderlecht and French club Lille, beginning his professional
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, 2 times, last: June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 3 times, last: March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Shots 2, 2 times, last: Oct. 5, 2024, KC vs. LAFC
Fouls Committed 5, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Suffered 2, 3 times, last: Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal N/A
Assist June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
career at the latter in 2016. He joined Belgian outfit Cercle Brugge in January 2019 and left the club in July 2020. Bassong enjoyed a two-year MLS stint with CF Montreal that began in early 2021. Following his time with Montreal, Bassong spent 2023 with two Romanian clubs, Arges Pitesti and Farul Constanta.
On the international stage, Bassong represented the Belgium U-19s in 2017 before switching his allegiance to Canada. He earned two caps for Canada’s senior national team in January 2020 before being called back in to the national team in October 2024. In March 2021, Bassong played three matches for Canada U-23s at the 2020 Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in Mexico, reaching the semifinals.
#3 | D | ANDREW BRODY
Height: 5-10
Weight: 145 Birthday: 5/3/1995
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Last Club: Real Salt Lake (MLS)
Acquired: Acquired off Waivers on 2/20/2025
Sporting Kansas City acquired outside back Andrew Brody off waivers ahead of the 2025 MLS season. Brody arrived in KC having logged 238 appearances since launching his professional career in 2016. Capable of playing as a right back or a left back, he spent four MLS seasons at Real Salt Lake from 2021-2024, where he had two goals and 17 assists in 133 matches across all competitions.
Brody joined the RSL Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, as a 16-year-old and became one of the country’s most coveted college recruits, resulting in a three-year stint at the University of Louisville from 2013-2015, amassing nine goals and 15 assists in 61 starts. From 2016-2020, Brody was an integral contributor for Real Monarchs, before spending six months on loan at FC Pinzgau Saalfelden in Austria in 2019.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: Aug. 14, 2022, RSL at SEA (w/ RSL)
Assists 1, 14 times, last: Sept. 21, 2024, RSL vs. POR (w/ RSL)
Shots on Goal 2, Oct. 1, 2022, RSL at LA (w/ RSL)
Shots 3, Aug. 6, 2022, RSL vs. LAFC (w/ RSL)
Fouls Committed 2, 4 times, last: July 15, 2023, RSL vs. NY (w/ RSL)
Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: June 17, 2023, RSL at DC (w/ RSL)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal Aug. 14, 2022, RSL at SEA (w/ RSL)
Assist Sept. 21, 2024, RSL vs. POR (w/ RSL)
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Brody signed with RSL as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2021 season and recorded an assist five minutes into his club debut: a 3-1 home win over Sporting KC on May 1, 2021. Brody enjoyed a career year in 2022, hitting MLS regular season career-highs in appearances (34), starts (33), minutes (2,960), goals (two) and assists (six) as RSL reached the postseason for a second consecutive year. Both of his goals were late winners that resulted in 2-1 triumphs.
Brody remained an important piece of an RSL side that advanced to the playoffs in 2023 and 2024. He totaled 35 appearances in 2023 - including four in the club’s run to the U.S. Open Cup semifinals - and 36 appearances in 2024.
#17 | M | JAKE DAVIS
Height: 5-10 Weight: 160 Birthday: 1/3/2002
Hometown: Rochester, Michigan
Last Club: Sporting KC II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 8/19/2021
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Jake Davis as a Homegrown Player in August 2021 as the 19th Homegrown Player to emerge from the SKC Academy.
Since debuting for the club on Sept. 15, 2021, Davis has tallied three goals and 10 assists in 78 matches across all competitions and was named team Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and team MVP in 2024. Davis broke into the team at right back in 2023 before splitting time at right back and in central midfield in 2024. Davis scored his first goal for the club with the game-winner in a 3-1 win at Toronto on March 30, 2024 and scored a goal nominated for MLS Goal of the Year against Austin on May 18, 2024.
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Shots 3, June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 5, Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Fouls Suffered 2, 3 times, last: May 4, 2024, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist Sept. 28, 2024, KC at STL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-2-0 he scores 0-0-0
Davis spent significant time developing with SKC II under former Sporting greats Paulo Nagamura and Benny Feilhaber from 2019-2022 before breaking out with the first team in 2023, helping the team post a 12-7-5 record in the 24 regular-season matches he started.
A native of Rochester, Michigan, Davis moved to Kansas City in 2017 at age 15 to join the SKC Academy. He represented Sporting at the U-17 and U-19 levels, amassing eight goals across 54 appearances. In July 2024, Davis was named as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, his first international recognition since November 2019 when he was selected to the U.S. U-17 National Team.
#24 | D | JOAQUIN FERNANDEZ
Height: 6-3
Weight: 170 Birthday: 5/31/1996
Hometown: Huercal de Almeria, Spain
Last Club: Trabzonspor (Turkey)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 8/13/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed Spanish center back Joaquin Fernandez midway through the 2024 campaign. A 6-foot-3 center back, Joaquin logged over 300 professional appearances during a 12-year European career, including 85 matches in the top-flight Spanish La Liga with Real Valladolid. Joaquin made his Sporting debut on Oct. 5, 2024 and played the final two matches of the 2024 campaign.
Joaquin joined the UD Almeria youth academy in his hometown and made his senior debut with Almeria B in the Spanish third division as a 16-year-old in December 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to Almeria’s first team in the Spanish Segunda. Joaquin was a regular starter for Almeria from 2016-2018, logging 35 appearances each season. In 2018, Joaquin moved up to La Liga by signing for newly promoted Real Valladolid.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Shots 1, Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Fouls Committed 3, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Suffered 2, Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he
Joaquin was a starter in La Liga from 2018-2021, and although Valladolid was relegated to the second tier in 2021, the team bounced back into the top flight by finishing second in the 2021-22 Spanish Segunda. Joaquin made a career-high 27 La Liga appearances in 2022-23 and played his final match for Valladolid in a 3-1 victory over European powerhouse FC Barcelona on May 23, 2023. In June 2023, Joaquin moved abroad for the first time in his career by joining Turkish side Trabzonspor, making 17 appearances and helping Trabzonspor finish third in the league to qualify for the UEFA Europa League.
On the international stage, Joaquin represented Spain at the U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels from 2012-2014 and participated in 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
#21 | M | MANU GARCIA
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150 Birthday: 1/2/1998
Hometown: Oviedo, Spain
Last Club: Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 2/3/2025
Sporting Kansas City acquired Spanish midfielder Manu Garcia as a Designated Player from Greek side Aris Thessaloniki ahead of the 2025 season. Garcia arrives at Sporting having amassed 21 goals and 40 assists in nearly 300 professional matches, playing in the top divisions of England, France, Netherlands, Spain and Greece.
Garcia developed as a youth at Astur CF and Sporting Gijon prior to joining the academy of Manchester City in early 2014. He made his first-team debut for Man City on Sept. 22, 2015, replacing Sergio Aguero in a League Cup victory at Sunderland. Garcia scored his first Man City goal the following month to seal another League Cup win over Crystal Palace and later made his Premier League debut on March 5, 2016. Garcia was loaned to two clubs for the 2016-17 season - Spanish La Liga side Alaves and Dutch outfit NAC
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, Feb. 22, 2025, KC at ATX
Shots 3, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 2, Feb. 22, 2025, KC at ATX
Fouls Suffered 1, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0
Breda. He played an instrumental role in NAC’s promotion to the top-flight Eredivisietallying two goals and nine assists in half a season - and continued his loan spell at the Dutch club for 2017-18. The 2018-19 campaign saw Garcia go on loan to Toulouse in the French Ligue 1. In July 2019, Garcia moved to Sporting Gijon on a club-record transfer fee. He made 76 appearances for Gijon over the next two seasons, recording four goals and 11 assists, before going on loan to La Liga’s Alaves in 2021-22. Garcia signed for Aris in Super League Greece in July 2022 and bagged his first hat-trick in a 3-0 home win over Volos on Jan. 21, 2023.
On the international stage, Garcia represented Spain at the U-16, U-17, U-19 and U-21 levels before debuting for Spain’s senior national team in June 2021.
#2 | D | IAN JAMES
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Birthday: 6/6/2008
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 12/6/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed defender Ian James as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2025 campaign, becoming the fourth youngest signing in Sporting KC history at the age of 16 years and 183 days. James represented Sporting at the U-14 through U-19 youth levels and broke into the U.S. U-16 and U-17 Men’s National Teams in 2024. James also played 10 matches for Sporting KC II during the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season.
A native of Minnesota, James captained the Sporting KC U-15s during the 2022-23 MLS NEXT season before spending most of the 2023-24 campaign with the U-17s. James participated in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game on July 23 in Columbus, Ohio, as one of the top 44 academy players from across the country.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A
Assists N/A
Shots on Goal N/A
Shots N/A
Fouls Committed N/A
Fouls Suffered N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A
Assist N/A 2025
James signed an amateur academy contract for Sporting KC II in 2024 and earned his SKC II debut on March 17, 2024 - a 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo 2. James logged 10 appearances in his first MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
James earned his first selection to the U.S. U-16 Men’s National Team in April 2024 for a training camp in Florida before returning to the U-16 squad the following month for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In November 2024, James was called up for a U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team training camp in West Palm Beach, Florida - his first inclusion at that age level.
#9 | F | DEJAN JOVELJIC
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 Birthday: 8/7/1999
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Last Club: LA Galaxy (MLS)
Acquired: Acquired in cash-for-player trade on 2/1/2025
Sporting Kansas City acquired striker Dejan Joveljic from the LA Galaxy in exchange for $4 million on Feb. 1, 2025, marking the first cash-for-player trade in MLS history. Joveljic signed a new Designated Player contract upon arrival in Kansas City.
Joveljic joined Sporting on the heels of a brilliant 2024 campaign that saw the Serbian international record 21 goals and eight assists in all competitions, including six goals in the MLS Cup Playoffs as LA won MLS Cup. Joveljic amassed 85 goals and 26 assists during an accomplished professional career that has spanned Serbia, Germany and MLS in addition to loan spells in Belgium and Austria. The center forward was notably a Serbian SuperLiga champion at Red Star Belgrade and in 2021 joined the Galaxy, where he totaled 45 goals and 18 assists in four seasons as an integral part of LA’s attack.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 5 times, last: Sept. 14, 2024, LA vs. LAFC (w/ LA)
Assists 2, May 29, 2022, LA vs. ATX (w/ LA)
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: May 29, 2024, LA vs. DAL (w/ LA)
Shots 6, 2 times, last: May 29, 2024, LA vs. DAL (w/ LA)
Fouls Suffered 4, Oct. 23, 2021, LA vs. DAL (w/ LA)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Assist Oct. 2, 2024, LA at COL (w/ LA)
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-1-0
Joveljic developed in the academy of Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade, turning pro as a 16-year-old in 2016 and helped Red Star to the 2017-18 SuperLiga title. Joveljic enjoyed a breakout 2018-19 campaign that yielded 11 goals in all competitions and his debut in the UEFA Champions League. Joveljic was transferred to German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019 and spent the latter half of the 2019-20 season on loan at Belgian heavyweight Anderlecht. Joveljic then enjoyed a loan stint at Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger, tallying 20 goals and five assists during the 2020-2021 campaign.
On the international stage, Joveljic has scored two goals in seven appearances for the Serbia Men’s National Team, having previously represented his country at the U-16 through U-21 youth levels.
#12 | GK | JACK KORTKAMP
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 Birthday: 1/28/2008
Hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 12/6/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2025 MLS season, becoming the fifth youngest signing in Sporting KC history at the age of 16 years and 13 days and the youngest goalkeeper in club history.
Kortkamp represented Sporting at the U-14 through U-19 levels, helping the U-19s win their second consecutive UPSL regular season division title in 2024 and leading the U-17s to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Generation adidas Cup. Kortkamp trained with Sporting’s first team during the 2024 preseason in Miami before signing an amateur contract with Sporting KC II in May 2024. He earned his SKC II debut on June 12 at Real Monarchs.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed N/A Saves N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Shutout N/A
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
Kortkamp is an experienced U.S. youth international who has competed in the U-15, U-16 and U-17 age groups. He participated in his first U.S. U-15 training camp in October 2022 at Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, before making his U.S. U-15 debut in April 2023. Kortkamp earned his first selection to the U.S. U-16s with a Florida training camp in April 2024 and returned to the squad the following month for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In September 2024, Kortkamp featured twice for the U-17s at the Vaclav Jezek Tournament in Europe. In November 2024, he was called up for a U-17s training camp in Florida before joining the U-17s once again for the 2025 Concacaf U-17 Men’s Qualifiers in February 2025.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 165
Hometown: Friolzheim, Germany
Last Club: Hamburger SV (Germany)
#14 | D | TIM LEIBOLD
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assists 1, 6 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots on Goal 2, March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Shots 2, 5 times, last: March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 5, March 9, 2024, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 11/30/1993
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/12/2023
Tim Leibold joined Sporting Kansas City in January 2023 having amassed more than 20 goals and 40 assists in nearly 300 professional appearances in his native Germany. Leibold is the third German newcomer at Sporting since the start of 2022, following center back Robert Voloder and midfielder Erik Thommy. Since joining the club, Leibold has tallied one goal and six assists in 59 appearances across all competitions.
Leibold spent eight seasons across Germany’s top two divisions from 2015-2022. He starred at Nurnberg from 2015-2019 before moving to Hamburg, where he served as club captain during the 2020-21 campaign. Leibold developed in youth academies at VfB Stuttgart, TSF Ditzingen and SGV Freiberg before turning professional with Freiberg at
age 18 in 2012. Leibold enjoyed a breakthrough in 2015 by joining 2. Bundesliga side Nurnburg and solidifying his place as a regular starter. The 2018-19 campaign saw Leibold lead Nurnburg with 32 Bundesliga starts while also assisting three goals. Competing in one of the world’s best leagues, he led the team in key passes, tackles, recoveries and touches while placing second in minutes played.
Leibold then returned to the 2. Bundesliga with a move to Hamburg, where he had his best professional season to date in 2019-20. He played every minute of all 34 league matches and led the 2. Bundesliga with 16 assists. At the international level, Leibold played five matches for the Germany U-20s in 2013.
#15 | D | JANSEN MILLER
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 Birthday: 2/10/2002
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
College: Indiana University
Acquired: 2025 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#8)
Sporting Kansas City signed Jansen Miller ahead of the 2025 season after selecting the defender with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft out of Indiana University. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Miller became Kansas City’s highest draft pick for a defender since longtime captain and U.S. international Matt Besler was also taken eighth overall in the 2009 draft.
Miller played 77 total matches in four college seasons, logging 27 appearances at Xavier in 2021 before transferring to Indiana and featuring in 50 games or the Hoosiers from 2022-2024. He was a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection in 2024, concluding his collegiate career with a third straight NCAA tournament berth and scoring a golden goal
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals N/A
Assists N/A
Shots on Goal N/A
Shots N/A
Fouls Committed N/A
Fouls Suffered N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Goal N/A Assist N/A
against Akron in the second round of the postseason. During his time at IU, the Hoosiers were College Cup finalists in 2022, Big Ten tournament champions in 2023 and finished atop the conference regular season standings in each of his final two years. In addition to his time on campus, Miller also played for USL League Two teams St. Louis Scott Gallagher (2021), Long Island Rough Riders (2023) and Ocean City Nor’easters (2024).
Miller played for Saint Louis FC in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, where he was named to the USC Youth Boys All-Central Region Team in 2019. He signed amateur academy contracts with Saint Louis FC in 2019 and 2020, training regularly at the USL Championship level.
#18 | D | LOGAN NDENBE
Height: 5-8
Weight: 170
Hometown: La Louviere, Belgium
Last Club: EA Guingamp (France)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/14/2022
Birthday: 2/9/2000
Logan Ndenbe joined Sporting in a transfer from French team EA Guingamp in January 2022. Ndenbe arrived in Kansas City after spending his first five professional seasons in Europe with Belgian top-flight side KV Oostende and Guingamp.
Ndenbe has made 62 appearances for the club in all competitions, tallying two goals and two assists with both goals coming in the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs series against St. Louis. Ndenbe suffered a torn ACL in the second match against St. Louis on Nov. 5, 2023 and returned to the field exactly nine months later on Aug. 5, 2024.
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 0
Assists 1, Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Fouls Suffered 4, 2 times, last: July 3, 2022, KC vs. NY
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal N/A
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Record
Ndenbe developed in the Royal Excel Mouscron academy before joining KV Oostende as a 17-year-old in 2017. Ndenbe left Belgium in July 2020, signing for Guingamp to mark the start of a successful stint in the French Ligue 2.
On the youth international stage, Ndenbe rose through the Belgian U-17 and U-18 teams before earning his Belgium U-21 debut in June 2021 for his first of six matches in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying. He started in four games during qualifying, helping the team go 3-0-1.
#1
| GK | JOHN PULSKAMP
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205 Birthday: 4/19/2001
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
Last Club: Sporting Kansas City II (USL Championship)
Acquired: Signed as a Homegrown Player on 2/24/2020
John Pulskamp joined Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player ahead of the 2020 season after acquiring his Homegrown rights from the LA Galaxy where he spent two seasons in the club’s Academy. He earned his MLS debut in the 2021 season opener, helping the side to a 2-1 victory at the New York Red Bulls and has made 31 regular-season appearances for the club in MLS play, tallying six shutouts.
Pulskamp became the youngest goalkeeper in Sporting KC history to record a shutout following a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Oct. 27, 2021 at the age of 20 years and 191 days. He enjoyed a breakout year in 2022 when he deputized for an injured Tim Melia to make 15 starts in all competitions, posting an 8-3-4 record.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 4, 2 times, last: March 25, 2023, KC vs. SEA Saves 7, July 17, 2022, KC at RSL
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ Shutout March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA 2025 Record when: he starts 0-2-0
Pulskamp joined the MLS ranks on the heels of a breakout 2019 USL Championship season with SKC II. Pulskamp arrived in Kansas City in April 2019 after a two-year stint in the LA Galaxy Academy. He also spent time on trial with English Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth in the summer of 2018. Prior to joining the Galaxy, he represented youth sides Real So Cal and Central California Aztecs.
Pulskamp was called in to a U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in December 2021 and was named as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the youth international level, Pulskamp has represented the U.S. at the U-18 and U-20 levels.
#6 | M | NEMANJA RADOJA
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 Birthday: 2/6/1993
Hometown: Novi Sad, Serbia
Last Club: Levante (Spain)
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 10/26/2022
Nemanja Radoja signed with Sporting KC ahead of the 2023 campaign, having spent most of the last decade in the Spanish La Liga with Celta Vigo and Levante. Radoja played nearly 300 matches across the top divisions of Serbia and Spain and also boasts experience in the UEFA Europa League with Vojvodina and Celta Vigo. Radoja has tallied one goal and seven assists in 63 appearances across all competitions since joining SKC.
Radoja began his professional career with Serbian club Vojvodina before embarking on an eight-year journey in La Liga. He logged 181 La Liga appearances from 2014-2022, playing alongside Sporting defender Andreu Fontas at Celta Vigo from 2014-2018 and spent three seasons with Levante from 2019-2022. Radoja developed in Vojvodina’s youth academy and joined the club’s senior team in 2011 prior to brief loan spells in Serbia. Celta Vigo acquired Radoja via transfer in August 2014 and he took little time
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Assists 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
Shots on Goal 2, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Shots 3, March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Fouls Committed 3, 6 times, last: July 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 3, 3 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA
Assist July 13, 2024, KC at SJ
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
settling in as a key figure for Celta, regularly competing in tandem with Fontas for a team that finished eighth in 2014-15. Radoja and Celta improved upon their fortunes in 2015-16 leading to a sixth-place league finish. Celta Vigo’s 2016-17 campaign was highlighted by runs to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and UEFA Europa League, where they fell to eventual champions Manchester United. Radoja moved to Levante ahead of the 2019-20 campaign. His first year at the club was highlighted by scoring in a 3-1 upset win over European powerhouse FC Barcelona.
On the international stage, Radoja has two caps for the Serbia Men’s National Team. He earned his senior debut in a friendly match at Ukraine in November 2016 and made one appearance in Serbia’s successful qualifying campaign ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. As a youth, Radoja represented Serbia at the U-18 through U-21 levels.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Hometown: El Campo, Texas
Last Club: Austin FC (MLS)
#8 | M | MEMO RODRIGUEZ
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: July 13, 2020, HOU at LAFC (w/ HOU)
Assists 1, 22 times, last: July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Shots on Goal 3, 3 times, last: July 24, 2021, HOU at SJ (w/ HOU)
Shots 7, 2 times, last: April 16, 2021, HOU vs. SJ (w/ HOU)
Fouls Committed 5, June 18, 2022, HOU at ORL (w/ HOU)
Fouls Suffered 5, 2 times, last: June 29, 2022, HOU at POR (w/ HOU)
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 12/27/1995
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 2/1/2024
Sporting Kansas City signed midfielder Memo Rodriguez ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign. Prior to joining Sporting, Rodriguez scored 34 goals in 227 professional club appearances since joining Houston Dynamo FC as a homegrown player in late 2014. He spent seven MLS seasons in Houston, notably winning the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, prior to representing both LA Galaxy and Austin FC in 2023. Rodriguez has tallied three goals and six assists in 34 appearances across all competitions for Sporting.
Born in Wharton, Texas, and raised in nearby El Campo, Rodriguez entered the Houston Dynamo Academy in 2011. He was named its Academy Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 before launching his MLS career at age 18, inking a Homegrown Player deal with
the Dynamo ahead of the 2015 season. He spent most of his debut campaign on loan with the Charleston Battery in the USL Championship before joining Rio Grande Valley FC, Houston’s then-affiliate, for a breakout 2016 season. Rodriguez rejoined Houston in 2017 and made his MLS debut on April 8, 2017. In 2018, Rodriguez won the U.S. Open Cup with Houston before being named the Dynamo Young Player of the Year in 2019.
The Galaxy signed Rodriguez as a free agent in January 2023. He scored his first goal for the club in a thrilling 3-2 road win over Real Salt Lake on May 31 before moving to Austin FC in a trade on Aug. 1. He played nine MLS matches for Austin and finished the year with 21 league appearances, notching one goal and two assists.
#5 | D | DANY ROSERO
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Last Club: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 3/2/2023
Birthday: 10/6/1993
Sporting Kansas City acquired center back Dany Rosero in a transfer from Colombian side Atletico Junior in March 2023. Rosero eclipsed 300 professional appearances across Argentina and his native Colombia, scoring 20 goals and competing in the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. Beginning his career at Argentine club Arsenal de Sarandi as a teenager, the defender spent seven seasons in the Colombian top-flight Categoria Primera A with Patriotas Boyacá, Deportivo Cali and Junior. To date, Rosero has tallied seven goals in 64 appearances across all competitions for Sporting KC.
Born in Colombia, Rosero moved to Argentina to join Arsenal’s youth academy and began his professional career with the club in 2012. He enjoyed a pair of early breakthroughs by helping Arsenal win the 2013 Copa Argentina and by appearing in the 2014 Copa Libertadores. Rosero returned to his home country in 2016 with Patriotas Boyacá where
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 4 times, last: April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Assists 0
Shots on Goal 1, 12 times, last: Sept. 15, 2024, KC at SEA Shots 3, April 1, 2023, KC at PHI
Fouls Committed 3, 3 times, last: June 22, 2024, KC at CLB
Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Last Regular Season... Appearance Feb. 22, 2025, KC at ATX Goal April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he
strong performances paved the way for Rosero to join Colombian powerhouse Deportivo Cali in 2017. Rosero delivered his most dominant season to date in 2019, scoring seven goals and starting 55 games in all competitions, with Deportivo Cali finishing as Copa Colombia runners-up.
In 2020, Rosero signed for Colombian heavyweights Junior and played in both the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, making 11 starts across the two tournaments. The following season, Rosero made seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores and one in the Copa Sudamericana while scoring three goals in 33 Primera A matches as Junior finished fifth in the aggregate league table. Rosero remained one of the Colombian first division’s best center backs in 2022, starting 36 league games and propelling Junior to the Copa Colombia finals.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
#10 | F | DANIEL SALLOI
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 4 times, last: May 18, 2022, KC vs. COL
Assists 2, 5 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Shots on Goal 4, 3 times, last: July 13, 2019, KC at VAN
Shots 8, May 5, 2018, KC vs. COL
Fouls Committed 4, June 7, 2019, KC at TOR
Fouls Suffered 5, July 31, 2021, KC vs. DAL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 7/19/1996
Acquired: Signed as Homegrown Player on 1/13/2016
Daniel Salloi signed with Sporting KC as a Homegrown Player in early 2016 and made his Sporting KC debut on April 9, 2017. After enjoying a breakout campaign in 2018 where he tallied 16 goals and seven assists in all competitions, Salloi rebounded from a few lean years to be named an MLS All-Star and an MLS MVP finalist in 2021 after recording 16 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, tying the club record for most non-penalty goals in a single MLS regular season. His 16 game-winning goals are the most in club history.
Salloi, who signed a new four-year contract in late 2022, enjoyed another productive year in 2023 by leading the team with 22 goal contributions (10 goals, 12 assists) and has recorded 60 goals and 43 assists in 256 appearances across all competitions. Salloi scored on his first start for the club - a 4-0 win over Minnesota United in the U.S. Open Cup on June 14, 2017 - and added his first MLS goal vs. Portland on July 1, 2017 before scoring the winning goal in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final against the Red Bulls.
Salloi moved to the U.S. in 2014 as an AFS exchange student and attended Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, joining the SKC Academy. Salloi briefly returned to his former Hungarian Academy side Ujpest FC in July 2015 where he made his pro debut on July 18, 2015 before returning to Kansas City in 2016. He split the 2016 season on loan with SKC II and Gyirmot SE in Hungary before joining the Sporting KC first team full-time in 2017.
Salloi has four caps for the senior Hungary National Team, having made his debut in a World Cup Qualifier against England on Sept. 2, 2021. He previously played for the Hungary Under-21 National Team.
#36 | GK | RYAN SCHEWE
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 Birthday: 3/8/2002
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
College: Georgetown
Acquired: 2024 MLS SuperDraft 1st Round (#22)
Sporting Kansas City selected goalkeeper Ryan Schewe as the 22nd overall pick in the first round of MLS SuperDraft 2024. In two outstanding seasons as a starter at Georgetown University from 2022-2023, Schewe posted a 20-4-4 record with a 0.79 goals against average, 12 clean sheets and 86 saves. He enjoyed a breakout season as a junior in 2022, landing Second Team All-BIG EAST recognition after leading the conference in save percentage (.838) and shutouts (seven) en route to an 11-2-1 record.
During his senior year in 2023, Schewe propelled the Hoyas to the BIG EAST regular season championship with a 9-2-3 record and led the conference with the lowest goals against average (0.84) and the most shutouts (five). He punctuated his final college
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed N/A Saves N/A
Last Regular Season... Appearance N/A Shutout N/A 2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0
campaign with BIG East Goalkeeper of the Year and First Team All-BIG EAST honors while also receiving United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-East Region accolades.
In addition to playing for Georgetown, Schewe competed as an amateur for Georgia club Apotheos FC of the National Premier Soccer League in 2022 and the New York-based Westchester Flames of USL League Two in 2023. At the youth level, the Georgia native spent three years each with the Atlanta United Academy and United Football Academy in his home state.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185
Hometown: Austin, Texas
College: Oregon State
Last Club: SC Paderborn 07 (Germany)
#11 | D | KHIRY SHELTON
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 18 times, last: June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Fouls Suffered 4, April 11, 2015, NYC at PHI (w/ NYC)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Sept. 28, 2024, KC at STL
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 6/26/1993
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 12/9/2019
Khiry Shelton is in the midst of his second stint with Sporting Kansas City, having initially helped the club to a first place in the Western Conference and a record-breaking scoring season in 2018, before departing to play in Germany with SC Paderborn 07 for one season in 2019. He returned to the club ahead of the 2020 season and has tallied 15 goals and 19 assists across 164 appearances for the club.
Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by expansion side New York City FC and spent three seasons with the club before initially arriving in KC via trade ahead of the 2018 season.
He was NYCFC’s first-ever SuperDraft pick and played a total of 54 regular-season games for the club, notching six goals and 10 assists across just 23 starts.
In college, Shelton attended Oregon State University where he was an NSCAA All-America Second Team selection; Pac-12 Player of the Year; All-Far West Region First Team as he helped lead the Beavers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2003 during his senior year. Shelton was a member of the U.S. U-18 National Team as a youth player.
Height: 5-7
Weight: 155
Hometown: Makhachkala, Russia
Last Club: Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 2/3/2025
#93 | F | SHAPI SULEYMANOV
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 2, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ Fouls Committed 0 Fouls Suffered 4, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he starts 0-1-0
Birthday: 12/16/1999
Sporting Kansas City acquired winger Shapi Suleymanov in a transfer from Greek side Aris Thessaloniki ahead of the 2025 season. In eight years as a professional, Suleymanov has recorded 55 goals and 46 assists while making over 300 appearances in Russia, Turkey, Israel and Greece.
Suleymanov developed in the FC Krasnodar academy and broke into the club’s first team as a 17-year-old in 2017. That summer, he marked his second career appearance with a 93rd-minute goal to seal a 2-1 victory over Danish side Lyngby in 2017-18 Europa League qualifying.Suleymanov enjoyed a breakout season in 2018-19, finishing with 11 goals in all competitions. The following season saw Suleymanov strike twice in a 3-2 road win at FC Porto in the Champions League, highlighting another strong campaign in which the winger helped Krasnodar to its second consecutive third-place finish in the RPL. In
2020-21, Suleymanov again eclipsed five total goals for the third straight year Suleymanov spent the next two seasons on loan, joining Turkish Super Lig side Giresunspor in 2021-22- tallying three goals and three assists - and Hapoel Be’er Sheva of the Israeli Premier League in 2022-23, where he recorded five goals and five assists as a key contributor. Suleymanov was loaned to Aris for the 2023-24 season and made a strong impression in his debut campaign, notching six goals and four assists across all competitions, leading to a permanent transfer to Aris in 2024.
As a Russian youth international, Suleymanov had six goals and three assists at the U-16 level and added two goals as a U-17 player, before making 12 appearances for the U-18s from 2016 to 2017. He continued to ascend the youth ranks with two goals for the U-19s in late 2017 and three goals for the U-21s from 2019 to 2020.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 155
Hometown: Wettenhausen, Germany
Last Club: VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
#26 | M | ERIK THOMMY
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 2 times, last: Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Assists 2, Sept. 2, 2023, KC vs. STL
Shots on Goal 4, 2 times, last: March 11, 2023, KC vs. LA
Shots 8, 2 times, last: June 19, 2024, KC vs. RSL
Fouls Committed 4, April 20, 2024, KC vs. STL
Fouls Suffered 6, Oct. 19, 2024, KC at DAL
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal Sept. 18, 2024, KC vs. COL
Assist Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-2-0 he scores 0-0-0
Birthday: 8/20/1994
Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 6/23/2022
Erik Thommy, a German Bundesliga veteran, signed with Sporting KC in June 2022. Thommy previously recorded 42 goals and 33 assists across nine seasons in his native Germany - including nine goals, 14 assists and 96 appearances in the top-flight Bundesliga. He scored his first goal for Sporting in the 4-2 victory over the LA Galaxy on Aug. 6, 2022 and has tallied 16 goals and 20 assists in 97 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Capable of playing in an advanced midfield role or on the wing, Thommy launched his professional career with FC Augsburg in 2014 before going on loan to FC Kaiserslautern (2014-2016) and Jahn Regensburg (2016-2017). Thommy joined VfB Stuttgart in 2017, starred for Fortuna Dusseldorf during a successful loan spell in 2019-2020, and ended his time at Stuttgart in the Spring of 2022 by appearing in each of the club’s last six matches of the 2021-2022 campaign.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 Birthday: 10/16/1998
Hometown: South Orange, New Jersey
Last Club: Portland Timbers (MLS) Acquired: Signed as Free Agent on 1/13/2025
Thommy developed in academies at SV Kleinbeuren (2000-2002), SSV Ulm (2002-2009) and TSG Thannhausen (2009-2010) before moving to FC Augsburg. He signed for FC Augsburg II in 2013 and made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg’s senior team as a 19-year-old in February 2014.
#13 | F | MASON TOYE
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 2, 5 times, last: June 10, 2023, MTL vs. MIN (w/ MTL)
Assists 1, 6 times, last: June 21, 2023, MTL vs. NSH (w/ MTL)
Shots on Goal 4, July 17, 2021, MTL vs. CIN (w/ MTL)
Shots 6, Sept. 22, 2019, MIN at POR (w/ MIN)
Fouls Committed 3, 5 times, last: Aug. 14, 2021, MTL vs. NY (w/ MTL)
Fouls Suffered 2, 9 times, last: March 18, 2023, MTL vs. PHI (w/ MTL)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance Oct. 19, 2024, POR at SEA (w/ POR)
Goal April 20, 2024, MTL vs. ORL (w/ MTL)
Assist June 21, 2023, MTL vs. NSH (w/ MTL)
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 0-0-0
Sporting Kansas City signed forward Mason Toye via free agency ahead of the 2025 season. Toye joins Sporting after scoring 25 goals in 140 appearances across his first seven professional seasons, including MLS stints with Minnesota United FC (2018-2020), CF Montreal (2020-2024) and the Portland Timbers (2024).
Toye began his professional career with Minnesota as the seventh overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Toye enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign with eight goals and three assists in all competitions. In October 2020, Toye was traded from Minnesota to Montreal. His first full season north of the border in 2021 yielded an MLS career-high seven goals, while Toye’s 2022 campaign was highlighted by a brace in a 2-1 comeback
win over Seattle during Montreal’s best regular season in club history. Toye bagged three more goals for Montreal in 2023 before being traded to the Portland Timbers in July 2024. Toye played one season of college soccer at Big Ten powerhouse Indiana in 2017, posting 10 goals and two assists, landing Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten accolades.
On the international stage, Toye has competed for the United States at the U-19, U-20 and U-23 levels. He scored goals in each of his first two appearances for the U-23s, a 2-0 triumph over Japan in September 2019 and a 6-1 victory versus El Salvador the following month.
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175 Birthday: 5/9/2001
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
Robert Voloder arrived in Kansas City in a transfer from NK Maribor in the Slovenian first division ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Voloder had played every minute for Slovenian powerhouse Maribor during the 2021-22 season before making the move to MLS. Since joining Sporting KC, Voloder has made 62 appearances in all competitions and tallied his first MLS goal against D.C. United on Sept. 13, 2022.
Prior to joining Maribor, Voloder began his professional career at heralded German side FC Cologne. He developed in the club’s academy from 2016-2020 before being selected to Cologne’s first team squad for three German Bundesliga matches at the end of the
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assists 1, 2 times, last: April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Shots on Goal 1, Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Shots 1, 5 times, last: Sept. 15, 2024, KC at SEA Fouls Committed 2, 5 times, last: June 29, 2024, KC vs. ATX Fouls Suffered 4, April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Last Regular Season... Appearance March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
2025 Record when: he starts 0-2-0 he scores 0-0-0
2019-20 campaign. Voloder featured regularly for FC Cologne II in 2020-21, starting all 26 appearances.
On the youth international stage, Voloder represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the U-17 through U-19 levels from 2017-2019 before switching his national team allegiance to Germany in September 2019, debuting for the country’s U-19s in a friendly against England. He played his first of five matches for the German U-20s in the fall of 2020 and recently captained the team in an Under 20 Elite League matchup against Norway on Sept. 6, 2021.
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (FIELD
C.J. Sapong (2011), Ilie Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018), Luis Martins (2021), Felipe Hernandez (2022), Remi Walter (2022)
Ilie Sanchez (2018), Graham Zusi (2018)
Dom Dwyer (2014)
(2004)
Aurelien Collin (2013)
Davy Arnaud (2010), Roger Espinoza (2019)
SINGLE SEASON RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
Nielsen (2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018)
(2012 & 2013), Tim Melia (2018)
Digital Takawira (1998), Preki (1998), Davy Arnaud (2004), Eddie Johnson
SINGLE GAME RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL ALL-TIME CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Year Player GP SV
2000 Tony Meola 31 129
2003 Tony Meola 30 121
2008 Kevin Hartman 30 117
2005 Bo Oshoniyi 32 112
2019 Tim Melia 32 111 SHUTOUTS
Year Player GP SO
2000 Tony Meola 31 16
2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 15
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 13
2018 Tim Melia 34 13
2008 Kevin Hartman 30 10
2010 Jimmy Nielsen 29 10
2017 Tim Melia 31 10
GOALKEEPER WINS
Year Player GP GW
1997 Mike Ammann 29 21
2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 18
2018 Tim Melia 34 18
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 17
2000 Tony Meola 31 15
1996 Garth Lagerwey 23 12
2011 Jimmy Nielsen 31 12
2017 Tim Melia 31 12 GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE Year Player GP GA GAA
2017 Tim Melia 31 24 0.78
2012 Jimmy Nielsen 34 27 0.79
2013 Jimmy Nielsen 34 30 0.88
2000 Tony Meola 31 29 0.92
2004 Tony Meola 21 22 1.05
*Minimum 1,000 minutes played
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
GOALS
Career: 71 Preki
Season: 22 Dom Dwyer (2014)
Game: 3 10 times
Half: 3 Vitalis Takawira (05/16/1998 at NE, 2nd)
Half: 3 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY, 2nd)
Half: 3 Gerso Fernandes (05/17/2017 vs. SEA, 2nd)
ASSISTS
Career: 98 Preki
Season: 17 Preki (1997)
Season: 17 Preki (2003)
Game: 4 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET)
Half: 3 Chris Henderson (06/20/1999 vs. MET, 1st)
Half: 3 Preki (06/21/2003 vs. CHI, 1st)
SHOTS
Career: 693 Preki
Season: 140 Preki (1996)
Game: 12 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB)
Half: 8 Preki (04/12/1997 at TB, 2nd)
Half: 8 Onandi Lowe (08/12/2001 at COL, 2nd)
Half: 8 Preki (07/06/2002 vs. DAL, 2nd)
GOALS
Season: 65 in 2018
Game: 7 03/30/2019 vs. MTL
2-Tms: 10 05/02/1996 vs. CLB
Half: 5 05/02/1996 vs. CLB (2nd)
Half: 5 06/21/1997 vs. DC (2nd)
ASSISTS
Season: 69 in 2018
Game: 10 06/20/1999 vs. MET
2-Tms: 12 07/04/2001 vs. CHI
Half: 8 06/20/1999 vs. MET (1st)
SHOTS
Season: 583 in 2018
Game: 34 05/15/2016 vs. ORL
Game: 34 04/20/2018 vs. VAN
Game: 34 10/06/2018 vs. LA
2-Tms: 44 4 times
Half: 23 04/20/2018 vs. VAN (2nd)
SHOTS ON GOAL
Career: 283 Preki
Season: 61 Preki (1996)
Game: 6 Preki (05/19/1996 at LA)
Game: 6 Eddie Johnson (06/02/2007 vs. NY)
Game: 6 Alan Pulido (10/24/2020 vs. COL)
Half: 4 10 times
FOULS COMMITTED
Career: 517 Roger Espinoza
Season: 79 Chris Henderson (2000)
Game: 8 Davy Arnaud (05/29/2010 at RSL)
Game: 8 Oriol Rosell (07/27/2013 at MTL)
Half: 7 Scott Uderitz (05/11/1996 vs. DAL, 1st)
FOULS SUFFERED
Career: 528 Davy Arnaud
Season: 111 Davy Arnaud (2004)
Game: 10 Davy Arnaud (10/14/2006 at NY)
Half: 6 8 times
CORNER KICKS
Career: 800 Graham Zusi
Season: 150 Graham Zusi (2012)
Game: 12 Alex Zotinca (07/22/2006 at NY)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (04/10/1999 vs. SJ, 2nd)
Half: 8 Chris Henderson (05/20/2000 vs. SJ, 1st)
Half: 8 Johnny Russell (08/14/2019 at ORL, 2nd)
GOALS ALLOWED
Career: 347 Tim Melia
Season: 60 Tim Melia (2019)
Game: 7 Bo Oshoniyi (07/04/2001 vs. CHI)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA)
Game: 7 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (09/15/2019 at LA, 2nd)
Half: 6 Tim Melia (05/14/2022 at POR, 2nd)
SAVES
Career: 746 Tim Melia
Season: 129 Tony Meola (2000)
Game: 10 Tim Melia (04/08/2018 at LA)
Half: 7 4 times
SPORTING KANSAS CITY TEAM HIGHS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
