Sporting Kansas City (6-11-5, 23 pts.) remains at Children’s Mercy Park this weekend to host New York City FC (10-8-4, 34 pts.) on Saturday night. NYC currently leads the all-time series between the two sides 3-2-1, with Sporting claiming wins in the first two meetings between the sides when New York City joined the league in 2015, before NYC hit back, going unbeaten in the last four matchups.
Sporting last faced NYC over three years ago during a tight 0-0 draw at Citi Field on May 7, 2022. Only six players that dressed for Sporting that night still remain on the active roster today - Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe, John Pulskamp, Daniel Salloi, Khiry Shelton and Robert Voloder.
Sporting most recently hosted NYCFC at Children’s Mercy Park over seven years ago on March 4, 2018 during the opening weekend of the 2018 MLS season. Sporting fell to a 2-0 defeat on the night following goals from Maxi Moralez and Jesus Medina, suffering their first of two home defeats during the entire 2018 regular season.
#SKCvNYC: Recent Meetings (NYC leads 3-2-1 in regular season)
Date Score Result Details
05/07/2022
07/26/2019
03/04/2018
09/06/2017
07/10/2016
KC 0 at NYC 0 T Defenses dominate as two sides split the points at Citi Field
KC 1 at NYC 3 L Ilie scores consolation as Espinoza sent off in road loss
KC 0 vs NYC 2 L Moralez and Medina strike either side of halftime for NYC
KC 0 at NYC 1 L Harrison scores late goal to win it at Yankee Stadium
KC 3 vs NYC 1 W Feilhaber, Medranda and Opara cancel out Lampard strike
#SKCvNYC: PLAYER HISTORY
• Forward Dejan Joveljic has scored once against NYCFC, coming as a member of the LA Galaxy in a 2-0 home win on June 19, 2024.
• Forward Mason Toye has one goal against NYCFC, coming as a member of CF Montreal in a 2-1 win on July 7, 2021 - played in Montreal’s temporary home at Orlando’s Inter & Co Stadium.
PLAYER/COACH CONNECTIONS
• Sporting KC foward Khiry Shelton began his professional career with New York City FC after being selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Shelton spent three seasons with NYC from 2015-2017, tallying six goals and 10 assists across 54 regular-season appearances. Shelton was teammates with current NYCFC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy during his time at the club.
• Defender Robert Voloder (2016-2021) and NYCFC’s Birk Risa (2014-2018) were both developed in FC Cologne’s Academy before advancing to the club’s second and first team.
• Forward Mason Toye was teammates with NYCFC goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh at Minnesota United in 2020.
• Goalkeeper Ryan Schewe played with NYCFC goalkeeper Tomas Romero at Georgetown University in 2020.
#SKCvNYC: BY THE NUMBERS
Sporting KC Team Notes
• Five penalty kicks have been awarded across Sporting’s last two matches. Kansas City conceded two penalty kicks in a 2-1 road win over Colorado on July 4 before earning two penalties and conceding one in the 3-2 loss to Seattle.
• Sporting has received eight goals from substitutes this season, third most in MLS behind San Diego (11) and San Jose (10).
• Sporting has scored 29 goals in 16 matches since April 1, fourth most in the Western Conference.
• Sporting in the midst of playing six straight games against teams with winning records, facing Seattle twice in addition to NYCFC, Vancouver, San Diego and Orlando between July 12 and Aug. 24.
• Sporting has been outscored 32-18 through the 60th minute while outscoring opponents 17-9 after the 60th minute this season.
• Sporting has scored 17 of its 35 goals after the 60th minute this season, a clip of 49%.
• Sporting is 4-4-0 when scoring the first goal and 2-7-4 when conceding the first goal during the 2025 regular season.
• Sporting is 3-0-0 when leading at halftime and 1-6-4 when trailing at halftime during the 2025 regular season.
• Sporting has led at halftime three times this season, tied for the fewest in MLS.
• Sporting has been outscored 9-3 in the first 15 minutes of MLS matches this season. Their nine goals conceded in the opening 15 minutes are second most in the league.
• Sporting ranks last in MLS in expected goals conceded per game (2.3).
Sporting KC Player Notes
• Forward Dejan Joveljic scored Sporting’s first goal against Seattle in the 3-2 loss on July 12. He has recorded a goal contribution in eight consecutive matches, the longest streak of any MLS player this season and tied for the second longest streak in club history. Joveljic ranks fifth in MLS with 13 goals this season, including eight goals in his last eight appearances since May 14.
• Forward Santiago Munoz scored Sporting’s second goal against Seattle in the 3-2 loss on July 12. He has recorded a goal contribution in four of his last seven MLS appearances, tallying three goals and one assist since May 31. All four of his goal contributions have come as a second-half substitute.
• Midfielder Manu Garcia is tied for sixth in MLS with nine assists and leads Sporting with 38 key passes, more than double the amount of any other Kansas City player. His 11 total goal contributions (two goals, nine assists) are second most on the team behind Dejan Joveljic (15).
New York City FC Team Notes
• NYCFC occupies seventh place in the Eastern Conference, five points above the playoff line with 12 regular season matches still to play.
• NYCFC has scored 22 of its 29 goals in the second half this season, a clip of 76%. NYCFC has outscored opponents 22-12 after halftime.
• NYCFC has scored seven first-half goals this season, the fewest in MLS.
• NYCFC has scored 12 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half this season, most in MLS.
• NYCFC is tied for fifth in MLS with a 1.14 goals against average, conceding 25 goals in 22 matches.
• NYCFC is 7-1-0 when scoring first and 3-7-2 when conceding first this season.
• NYCFC is 4-0-0 when leading at halftime and 2-5-1 when trailing at halftime this season. NYCFC’s two wins when trailing at halftime are tied for the most in MLS.
New York City FC Player Notes
• Forward Alonso Martinez is tied for the team lead with nine goals this season and is tied for second in MLS with five game-winning goals. Martinez has bagged the match-winner in five of the team’s 10 league victories this season. Martinez ranks second in MLS in expected goals per 90 minutes (0.73) and third in total expected goals (12.6).
• Midfielder Maxi Moralez leads the team with five assists and has started in all 22 MLS matches this season. The 38-year-old Argentine has amassed 34 goals and 85 assists in 223 MLS appearances across nine seasons with NYCFC (including playoffs).
NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES
• Midfielder Memo Rodriguez is one shy of his 200th MLS regular season appearance.
• Forward Mason Toye is one shy of his 150th professional club appearance.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY NEWS AND NOTES
THREE-GAME UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN END
Sporting Kansas City remains at home this weekend to host New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night. The match marks the final game of a stretch that sees Sporting play five of six games at home dating back to June 14. Sporting has gone 1-2-1 so far in the opening four home games, and won their only road game at Colorado on July 4.
Sporting saw the team’s three-game unbeaten run (2-0-1) come to an end last weekend, suffering a 3-2 defeat to the Seattle Sounders at Children’s Mercy Park. The visitors raced into a 3-0 halftime lead, but Sporting fought back through a pair of penalty kicks from Dejan Joveljic and Santiago Munoz to set up a grandstand finish that fell just short.
Sporting sits six points out of the ninth and final postseason spot and is in the midst of a run that sees the team play eight consecutive games against teams currently occupying playoff spots. Since taking the helm at the end of March, interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin has picked up 22 points (6-6-4 record), scoring 29 goals in 16 matches - tied for the fourth most in the Western Conference during that time.
FIRST HOME MATCH vs. NYCFC SINCE 2018
Sporting Kansas City remains at home this weekend as the team prepares to host eastern conference outfit New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park for the first time since 2018.
Sporting and NYCFC last met at Citi Field on May 7, 2022, playing out a tight and tense 0-0 draw. Much has changed for Sporting in the three years since, as only six of the 19 players that dressed that night still remain on the squad today (Jake Davis, Logan Ndenbe, John Pulskamp, Daniel Salloi, Khiry Shelton and Robert Voloder).
It’s been over seven years since New York City FC paid a visit to Children’s Mercy Park, most recently condemning Sporting to a 2-0 defeat on, March 4, 2018 - the opening weekend of the 2018 campaign. Maxi Moralez and Jesus Medina scored either side of halftime for the visitors, inflicting what would be one of just two home losses that Sporting would suffer in the 2018 regular season.
Sporting trails the all-time series 2-3-1, including a 1-1-0 mark at home.
JOVELJIC FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS
Sporting Kansas City forward Dejan Joveljic keeps getting his name on the scoresheet, adding another goal in the club’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night.
Joveljic, who has nine goal contributions in his last eight appearances, earned a penalty kick in the second half and stepped up to fire home his 13th goal of the season to take him to a team-leading 15 goal involvements (13 goals, two assists) in just 20 regularseason appearances this season.
Joveljic extended his own personal record with goal contributions in eight straight matches, which now stands alone as the longest streak in MLS this season and the second longest streak in club history, only trailing Johnny Russell who tallied a goal contribution in 10 straight games in 2021.
The Serbian frontman currently sits in a tie for fifth in the MLS Golden Boot charts with 13 goals, trailing Nashville’s Sam Surridge (16), Miami’s Lionel Messi (16), Cincinnati’s Evander (15) and Philadelphia’s Tai Baribo (14). Joveljic also overtook Miklos Molnar (12 goals in 2000) for the most goals by a newcomer in club history with 13, excluding the club’s inaugural 1996 season.
In addition, Joveljic’s 34 goals in MLS play since the start of 2024 is the second most in the league - only trailing superstar Messi.
MUNOZ PROVIDING SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Sporting Kansas City forward Santiago Munoz has proven to be a bright spot off the bench for Sporting this season, with seven of his nine appearances coming as a substitute since joining Sporting on loan with an option to buy from Mexican club Santos Laguna in late April.
During Saturday night’s 3-2 loss to the Seattle Sounders at Children’s Mercy Park, Munoz scored a late penalty kick in the 96th minute to set up a grandstand finish but Sporting was unable to find a dramatic third goal to salvage a draw
Munoz now has three goals on the season in just 281 minutes played – one more goal than he scored in the entire 2024-2025 LIGA MX season for Santos Laguna.
The Mexican American forward notably also set up Dejan Joveljic’s last-gasp winner against Charlotte FC on June 25, and all four of his goal contributions have come in his seven substitute appearances.
BARTLETT SET TO RETURN FROM SUSPENSION
Sporting Kansas City midfielder and Academy product Jacob Bartlett is set to re-enter the fray this weekend when the team hosts New York City FC at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday night after the 19-year-old served a one-game suspension in the 3-2 setback against Seattle last weekend.
Bartlett, who started 16 consecutive matches from March 29 through July 4, received his sixth yellow card of the season in the 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Independence Day, leading to a one-game suspension. Bartlett is the youngest player in MLS to start 18 games this season.
The Overland Park, Kansas native signed a Homegrown deal with Sporting in January after completing his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame. Bartlett had previously advanced through the club’s Academy from U-12s to U-19s.
KORTKAMP TO REPRESENT SKC AT MLS NEXT ALL-STAR GAME
Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp will represent the club at the fourth annual MLS NEXT All-Star Game, set to take place on Monday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Kortkamp is the fourth Sporting KC Academy product to represent the club at the MLS NEXT All-Star Game, joining Edgar Bazan (2022), Nati Clarke (2023) and fellow firstteam player Ian James (2024).
The match will showcase the future soccer stars of North America in an East vs. West showdown at Parmer Field, home of Austin FC II, in Austin, Texas, streaming live on MLS’ YouTube channel and MLSsoccer.com. With free admission to the game, fans in Austin can watch the standouts of MLS NEXT take center stage during MLS All-Star week.
Born in Oakville, Canada, and raised in Maple Grove, Minnesota, Kortkamp developed in the Sporting KC Academy, competing at the U-14 through U-19 levels from 2021-2024. He signed with Sporting as a Homegrown Player in December to become the youngest active goalkeeper in Major League Soccer.
POSTGAME: #SKCvSEA
Head coach Kerry Zavagnin
Thoughts on the first half…
“After the initial start to the game, and I mean right off the kickoff in which we had a good intention, I think we had a difficult time keeping the ball and creating chances. We gave the ball (away) in areas where they transitioned very well and we had a difficult time getting pressure on the ball. I think that was probably the biggest issue in the first half was getting pressure on the ball. We started in a 4-2-3-1 and we had a way in which we wanted to go pressure them and it didn’t work. We made an adjustment halfway through the second half, trying to put Manu (Garcia) a little bit closer to Dejan (Joveljic) in more of a 4-4-2. We tried a few different things and it just wasn’t working. We were giving the ball away and then we got stretched and they were getting at us. (Jordan) Morris’ run for the first goal, we’ve seen that time and time again and that was something that we were aware of and unfortunately he got to the spot first. That set everything else in motion. After it was 2-0, I think we started to put a little bit more pressure but then a dagger right before half in transition by giving the ball away - which you will from time to time in the box taking chances - and they transitioned right down the field and they scored. So we had almost an insurmountable deficit to overcome. But, as you said, we did come back in the second half. We made significant adjustments in the second half, in which we got close. But on the day, the first half did us in.”
On the second half adjustments…
“We brought in Santiago (Munoz) and Dejan together to pair them up top and we played Manu off the left side a little bit. He had free reign to come inside, which allowed Logan (Ndenbe) to go a little bit higher. It gave us another number through the midfield and I think that started the trend of us getting more of the ball, playing between lines and now getting into their final third. I thought that was a positive and then obviously with the goal that we scored. That gave us a little bit of life. We brought Mason (Toye) on for Daniel (Salloi) in the 79th minute to put more attacking players on and I thought that gave us even more life. Going at the end into a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-4-2 diamond to really get three attacking players in Dejan and Santiago and Manu in the game, it helped. We were able to play through there. Finally, at the end, obviously Mason, Dejan, Munoz and Manu, that was difficult, I think, for Seattle to handle. I’m not sure what the final tally was on expected goals, and I know that doesn’t matter at the end of the game, but I do know that we created a lot of chances.”
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)
FWD - William Agada (Traded to Real Salt Lake - April 23, 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 a 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.
April 22: IN Sporting KC acquires forward Santiago Munoz on loan with an option to buy at the end of the 2025 season from Santos Laguna (Mexico).
April 23: OUT Sporting KC trades forward William Agada in exchange for up to $850,000 in GAM from Real Salt Lake (MLS).
CONSTRUCTING SPORTING KANSAS CITY
2020 Khiry Shelton (12/9/19)
2021
2022 Logan Ndenbe (1/14/22)
Robert Voloder (1/19/22)
Erik Thommy (6/23/22)
2023 Stephen Afrifa (1st Round - #8) Nemanja Radoja (10/26/22)
2025 Jansen Miller (1st Round - #8) Manu Garcia (2/3/25)
Shapi Suleymanov (2/3/25)
Santiago Munoz (4/22/25)
Daniel Salloi (1/13/16)
John Pulskamp (2/24/20)
Jake Davis (8/19/21)
Memo Rodriguez (2/1/24)
Mason Toye (1/13/25) Dejan Joveljic (2/1/25)
Ian James (12/6/24) Jack Kortkamp (12/6/24)
Jacob Bartlett (1/9/25)
Andrew Brody (2/20/25)
2025 REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
2025 VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE LOG (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
March 15 vs. MIN Joe Dickerson
Daniel Radford
MIN Penalty
Overturned - No Penalty
Joaquin Fernandez is adjudged to have blocked a shot from Jeong Sang-Bin with his hand in the penalty area, and referee Joe Dickerson awards a penalty. After reviewing the play, Dickerson overturns his original decision as Fernandez had blocked the shot with his head.
March 22 vs. LAFC Ismir Pekmic
Kevin Terry Jr. SKC Penalty
Overturned - No Penalty
Shapi Suleymanov dribbles into the area and attempts to shoot but is tripped from behind by LAFC’s David Martinez, and referee Ismir Pekmic awards a penalty. After reviewing the play, Pekmic overturns his original decision as Martinez was adjudged to have won the ball.
April 13 vs. POR Pierre-Luc Lauziere
Shawn Tehini SKC No Penalty
Overturned - Penalty
Shapi Suleymanov dribbles into the area, passes the ball to Jake Davis and is caught late by Portland’s Antony, but referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere waves play on. After reviewing the play, Lauziere overturns his original decision and awards a penalty kick.
May 24 vs. NE Sergii Boiko
Katja Koroleva NE Disallowed Goal
Confirmed - Disallowed Goal
New England put the ball in the back of the net as Wyatt Omsberg’s shot deflects in off Ignatius Ganago, but assitant referee Walt Heatherly correctly raises his flag for offside on Ganago. After reviewing the play, referee Sergii Boiko confirms the on-field decision of offside.
July 12 vs. SEA Elijio Arreguin
Michael Radchuk SEA No Penalty
Overturned - Penalty
Seattle crosses the ball from the left wing and Daniel Salloi clears the ball for a corner kick. After reviewing the play, referee Elijio Arreguin overturns his original decision and awards a penalty kick as Salloi was adjudged to have handled the ball.
July 12 vs. SEA Elijio Arreguin
Michael Radchuk SKC No Penalty Overturned - Penalty
Santiago Munoz dribbles into the area and is tripped up by Seattle’s Reed Baker-Whiting, but referee Elijio Arreguin waves play on. After reviewing the play, Arreguin overturns his original decision and awards a penalty kick.
SPORTING KC MISCELLANEOUS STATS
2025 Regular-Season Record When...
Scoring first goal 4-4-0
Conceding first goal 2-7-4
Leading at halftime 3-0-0
Tied at halftime 2-5-1
Trailing at halftime 1-6-4
Scoring 0 goals 0-3-1
Scoring 1 goal 1-5-1
Scoring 2 goals 3-3-1
Scoring 3 goals 1-0-2
Scoring 4+ goals 1-0-0
Allowing 0 goals 2-0-1
Allowing 1 goal 3-2-1
Allowing 2 goals 0-5-1
Allowing 3 goals 1-2-2
Allowing 4+ goals 0-2-0
Wearing Sporting blue 6-8-3
Wearing Argyle 0-3-2
Leading at 75’ 5-0-1
Tied at 75’ 0-1-2
Trailing at 75’ 1-10-2
Outshooting opponent 1-5-2
Outshot by opponent 4-5-3
Shots even 1-1-0
Shutouts 2-3-1
One-goal games 3-7-0
Day games (before 5 p.m.) 0-2-0
Games 5 p.m. CT or later 6-9-5
Temperature 75 & up 3-4-2
Temperature below 75 3-6-3
With SKC red card 0-1-1
With opponent red card 0-2-0
In Pacific time zone 1-2-1
In Mountain time zone 1-0-0
In Central time zone 4-7-4
In Eastern time zone 0-2-0
vs. Western Conference 5-9-4 vs. Eastern Conference 1-2-1
On grass 6-10-5
On turf 0-1-0
With zero subs 0-0-0
With one sub 0-0-0
With two subs 0-0-0
With three subs 0-1-0
With four subs 2-3-1
With five subs 4-7-4
With six subs 0-0-0
Regular Season Record By Month
Feb. 2025 0-1-0
Feb. all-time 1-3-1
March 2025 0-4-1
March all-time 27-20-16
April 2025 2-2-0
April all-time 48-49-25
May 2025 2-1-3
May all-time 49-60-34
June 2025 1-2-1
June all-time 51-42-32
July 2025 1-1-0
July all-time 62-51-33
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 1-2-1 (0-0-0) vs. Austin FC 3-6-1 (0-1-0)
vs. Charlotte FC 1-0-0 (1-0-0)
vs. Chicago Fire 19-28-12 (0-0-0)
vs. Colorado Rapids 31-27-19 (1-0-0)
vs. Columbus Crew 26-23-9 (0-0-0)
vs. D.C. United 22-23-13 (0-1-0)
vs. FC Cincinnati 1-1-1 (0-1-0)
vs. FC Dallas 29-33-14 (0-2-0)
vs. Houston Dynamo 15-14-16 (1-0-0)
vs. Inter Miami CF 0-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. LAFC 4-9-2 (0-2-0)
vs. LA Galaxy 27-28-18 (1-0-0)
vs. Minnesota United 11-7-5 (0-0-1)
vs. CF Montreal 8-5-3 (0-0-0)
vs. Nashville SC 2-2-0 (0-0-0)
vs. NE Revolution 25-20-13 (0-0-1)
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 3-3-2 (0-0-0)
vs. Philadelphia Union 6-6-7 (0-0-0)
vs. Portland Timbers 9-10-7 (0-2-0)
vs. Real Salt Lake 13-18-10 (0-0-1) vs. San Diego FC 0-0-1 (0-0-1)
vs. SJ Earthquakes 33-27-10 (1-1-0)
vs. St. Louis 2-3-3 (1-0-1)
vs. Seattle Sounders 12-14-4 (0-1-0)
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 376-362-206
2025 at home 3-5-3
All-time at home 244-130-96
2025 on road 3-6-2
SPORTING KC IN 2025 (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Quickest Goal... Dejan Joveljic (7/4 at COL) - 4th Minute
Game-winning goals after 75’... Dejan Joveljic (6/25 vs. CLT) - 96th Minute
Game-tying goals after 75’... Dejan Joveljic (3/15 vs. MIN) - 80th Minute Dejan Joveljic (5/14 at STL) - 77th Minute
Game-winning goals against after 75’... Osman Bukari (2/22 at ATX) - 76th minute Kevin Denkey (4/26 at CIN) - 78th Minute
Game-tying goals against after 75’... Maxi Urruti (5/24 vs. NE) - 84th Minute
Red Cards... Khiry Shelton (6/14 vs. DAL) - 62nd Minute Jake Davis (6/28 vs. RSL) - 82nd Minute
Red Cards Against... Hernan Lopez (3/1 vs. SJ) - 52nd Minute Nouhou (7/12 vs. SEA) - 94th Minute
Penalty Kicks... Dejan Joveljic (3/1 vs. SJ) - Scored on Daniel Dejan Joveljic (4/13 vs. POR) - Scored on James Pantemis Dejan Joveljic (4/13 vs. POR) - Saved by James Pantemis Dejan Joveljic (5/24 vs. NE) - Scored on Aljaz Ivacic Dejan Joveljic (7/12 vs. SEA) - Scored on Andrew Thomas Santiago Munoz (7/12 vs. SEA) - Scored on Andrew Thomas
Penalty Kicks Earned... Handball on Ian Harkes (3/1 vs. SJ) - 27th Minute Foul on Shapi Suleymanov (4/13 vs. POR) - 33rd Minute Foul on Stephen Afrifa (4/13 vs. POR) - 93+ Minute Foul on Dejan Joveljic (5/24 vs. NE) - 59th Minute Foul on Dejan Joveljic (7/12 vs. SEA) - 67th Minute Foul on Santiago Munoz (7/12 vs. SEA) - 96th Minute
Penalty Kicks Against... Christian Benteke (3/8 at DC) - Scored on John Pulskamp Chicho Arango (4/19 at SJ) - Scored on John Pulskamp Denis Bouanga (6/8 at LAFC) - Scored on John Pulskamp Lucho Acosta (6/14 vs. DAL) - Scored on John Pulskamp Djordje Mihailovic (7/4 at COL) - Hit the left post Rafael Navarro (7/4 at COL) - Scored on John Pulskamp Albert Rusnak (7/12 vs. SEA) - Scored on John Pulskamp
Youngest Goalscorer... Santiago Munoz (5/31 at HOU) - 22 years and 290 days
Oldest Goalscorer... Tim Leibold (5/14 at STL) - 31 years and 165 days
Youngest Starter... Ian James (6/28 vs. RSL) - 17 years and 22 days
Youngest to play in a game... Ian James (6/25 vs. CLT) - 17 years and 19 days
Oldest Starter... Nemanja Radoja (5/10 at POR) - 32 years and 93 days Oldest to play in a game... Nemanja Radoja (7/12 vs. SEA) - 32 years and 156 days
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
Austin FC (1-0-0, 3 pts.)
Sporting KC Austin FC
GK Pulskamp GK Stuver
D Davis D Desler (Fodrey 90’)
D Fernandez (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) (Suleymanov 84’) F Bukari
Subs not used: Subs not used: Schewe (GK) Cleveland (GK)
May 31, 2025: Houston Dynamo 1-3 Sporting KC MLS Game 16 | Shell Energy Stadium | Houston, TX Attendance: 17,852 Weather: 85 degrees and mostly cloudy 1 2 F
PLAYER DAL CLT RSL @COL SEA NYC @VAN SD @ORL @SEA COL ATX
AFRIFA SUB-12 DNP DNP DNP DNP
BARTLETT DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 DM-90 SUS
BASSONG INTL INTL INTL CM-90 DM-90
BRODY DNP DNP SUB-1 DNP SUB-6
DAVIS CM-60 RB-90 SUB-24 SUS SUB-45
FERNANDEZ CB-90 CB-90 SUS CB-45 CB-90
GARCIA CM-90 CM-90 CM-90 CM-90 AM-90
JAMES DNP SUB-1 CB-90 SUB-45 DNP
JOVELJIC CF-89 CF-89 DNP CF-73 CF-90
KORTKAMP UNAV UNAV SKCII SKCII UNAV
LEIBOLD DNP DNP LB-45 LB-57 DNP
MILLER CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90 CB-90
MUNOZ SUB-12 SUB-21 CF-77 SUB-3 SUB-45
NDENBE LB-78 LB-90 SUB-45 INJ LB-80
PULSKAMP GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90 GK-90
RADOJA INJ INJ INJ INJ SUB-10
RODRIGUEZ SUB-30 SUB-21 CM-58 SUB-33 DM-45
ROSERO INJ INJ INJ INJ INJ
SALLOI SUB-30 LW-85 LW-45 SUB-32 LW-79
SCHEWE DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
SHELTON RB-62 SUS RB-90 RB-90 RB-84
SULEYMANOV RW-78 RW-69 SUB-45 RW-58 RW-45
TOYE SUB-1 SUB-5 SUB-13 SUB-17 SUB-11
THOMMY LW-60 CM-69 RW-89 LW-87 INJ
VOLODER INJ INJ INJ INJ UNAV
KEY
Position-Minutes - Starting Position-Minutes Played
DNP - Unused Substitute
SUB-Minutes - Substitute-Minutes played UNAV - Unavailable For Selection
INJ - Injured
SKCII - Sporting Kansas City II
SUS - Suspended INTL - International Duty LOAN - Out on Loan ACD - Sporting KC Academy
INTERIM HEAD COACH | KERRY ZAVAGNIN
Kerry Zavagnin was named interim head coach of Sporting Kansas City on March 31, 2025 following the departure of longtime Manager Peter Vermes. Zavagnin currently holds the MLS record as he enters his 26th season with one club as a player or coach.
Zavagnin took charge of his first match as interim head coach on April 5, 2025, leading the team to a 2-0 victory over archrivals St. Louis at Children’s Mercy Park.
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 has won seven major trophies with Kansas City, three as a player (2000 MLS Cup, 2000 Supporters’ Shield and 2004 Open Cup) and four as a coach (2013 MLS Cup and Open Cups in 2012, 2015 and 2017). Zavagnin has played or coached 939 matches with the club in all competitions.
Zavagnin has been involved in over 84% of the club’s matches all-time as either a player or an assistant coach (939 of 1,115 matches).
Zavagnin 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 arrived in Kansas City in 2000.
He played 237 games and logged 20,516 minutes for the Wizards, 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.
KERRY ZAVAGNIN HEAD COACHING RECORD AT SPORTING KC
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 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
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 in 2005 before earning promotions to Vice President of Player Personnel in 2008 and to General Manager in 2011.
Under Burns, New England reached three consecutive MLS Cups in 2005, 2006 and 2007 and returned to the championship match in 2014.
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.
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 record-breaking 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.
Joey Harty was named Sporting Kansas City’s Director of Sports Performance and Science ahead of the 2020 season, stepping up from his role as assistant fitness coach which he held from 2018-2019. Harty manages all aspects of the club’s performance department from the academy to the senior team. He oversees day-to-day training plans on and off the field, including work in the weight room, soccer session planning, on-field movement training, data analysis and more, aiming to optimize player health and performance. Harty joined Sporting’s organization in January 2016, serving as a fitness coach for the Sporting Kansas City Academy before spending the 2017 season as head fitness coach for Sporting KC II. The Colorado native then transitioned to assistant fitness coach for Sporting’s first team in January 2018 before landing his current role with the club. Prior to arriving in Kansas City, Harty worked for Phoenix Rising FC and Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Harty attended Grand Canyon from 2010-2014, played for the men’s soccer team from 2010-2012 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. In addition to holding several professional licenses and certifications in athletic performance, Harty is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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.
#16 | M | JACOB BARTLETT
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
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
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 0 Shots 1, 2 times, last: July 4, 2025, KC at COL Fouls Committed 3, 3 times, last: July 4, 2025, KC at COL Fouls Suffered 4, June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he starts 6-8-4
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.
Height: 5-9
Weight: 175
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Last Club: Farul Constanta (Romania)
#22 | M | ZORHAN BASSONG
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
Assists 1, 4 times, last: May 31, 2025, KC at HOU
Shots on Goal 2, April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
Shots 2, 3 times, last: April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
Fouls Committed 5, 2 times, last: May 17, 2025, KC at SD
Fouls Suffered 2, 4 times, last: March 8, 2025, KC at DC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
Assist May 31, 2025, KC at HOU
2025 Record when: he starts 2-3-4 he scores 0-1-0
Birthday: 5/7/1999
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 41 appearances for Sporting in all competitions, tallying one goal and three assists.
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
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 has earned five caps for Canada’s senior national team: two in January 2020 before returning to the national team for the Gold Cup in 2025. 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, 15 times, last: April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
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 July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal Aug. 14, 2022, RSL at SEA (w/ RSL)
Assist April 26, 2025, KC at CIN
2025 Record when: he starts 1-1-2 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 11 assists in 92 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.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assists 1, 8 times, last: March 8, 2025, KC at DC
Shots on Goal 1, 7 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Shots 3, 3 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Committed 5, Sept. 7, 2024, KC at NY
Fouls Suffered 2, 4 times, last: June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal Aug. 24, 2024, KC vs. ORL
Assist March 8, 2025, KC at DC
2025 Record when: he starts 2-7-2 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, Fernandez logged over 300 professional appearances during a 12-year European career, including 85 matches in the top-flight Spanish La Liga with Real Valladolid. Fernandez made his Sporting debut on Oct. 5, 2024 and played the final two matches of the 2024 campaign.
Fernandez 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. Fernandez was a regular starter for Almeria from 2016-2018, logging 35 appearances each season. In 2018, Fernandez moved up to La Liga by signing for newly promoted Real Valladolid.
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 0 Assists 0 Shots on Goal 1, 2 times, last: May 31, 2025, KC at HOU Shots 1, 6 times, last: June 8, 2025, KC at LAFC
Fouls Committed 5, June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: April 13, 2025, KC vs. POR
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he starts 5-7-1 he scores
Fernandez 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. Fernandez 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, Fernandez 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, Fernandez represented Spain at the U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels from 2012-2014 and participated in 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
Height: 5-7
Weight: 150
Hometown: Oviedo, Spain
Last Club: Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 2/3/2025
Birthday: 1/2/1998
#21 | M | MANU GARCIA
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last: May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
Assists 2, 2 times, last: June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Shots on Goal 1, 4 times, last: May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
Shots 3, March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 4, May 17, 2025, KC at SD
Fouls Suffered 5, May 14, 2025, KC at STL
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
Assist June 28, 2025, KC vs. RSL
2025 Record when: he starts 6-10-5 he scores 1-0-1
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
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 Birthday: 6/6/2008
Hometown: St. Paul, Minnesota
Last Club: Sporting KC Academy
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 made his first MLS start on June 28, 2025, becoming the second-youngest player to start a match in Sporting history at the age of 17 years and 22 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. James signed an amateur academy contract for Sporting KC II in 2024 and earned his SKC II debut on March 17, 2024. 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.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165
Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia
Last Club: LA Galaxy (MLS)
#9 | F | DEJAN JOVELJIC
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 2, 7 times, last: May 31, 2025, KC at HOU Assists 2, May 29, 2022, LA vs. ATX (w/ LA)
Shots on Goal 4, 4 times, last: May 14, 2025, KC at STL
Shots 7, June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Fouls Committed 3, 7 times, last: April 19, 2025, KC at SJ Fouls Suffered 4, Oct. 23, 2021, LA vs. DAL (w/ LA)
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Assist June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL
2025 Record when: he starts 6-10-3 he scores 4-4-3
Birthday: 8/7/1999
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.
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.
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, 2 times, last: May 14, 2025, KC at STL
Assists 1, 7 times, last: March 15, 2025, KC vs. MIN
Shots on Goal 2, March 30, 2024, KC at TOR
Shots 2, 5 times, last: March 1, 2025, KC vs. SJ
Fouls Committed 5, July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Fouls Suffered 5, March 9, 2024, KC at LAFC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Goal May 14, 2025, KC at STL
Assist March 15, 2025, KC vs. MIN
2025 Record when: he starts 1-2-3 he scores 0-0-1
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 two goals and seven assists in 71 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
Assists
Shots on Goal 1, 4 times, last: June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL Shots 2, May 31, 2025, KC
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal N/A
Assist N/A
2025 Record when: he
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.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 150
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Last Club: Santos Laguna (Mexico)
Acquired: Acquired on loan on 4/22/2025
Birthday: 8/14/2002
#7 | F | SANTIAGO MUNOZ
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals 1, 3 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Assists 1, June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Shots on Goal 1, 4 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Shots 3, 3 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Committed 1, 3 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Suffered 3, 2 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Assist June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-2 he scores 1-2-0
Sporting Kansas City acquired forward Santiago Munoz on loan from LIGA MX side Santos Laguna in April for the remainder of the 2025 season. Munoz’s loan comes with an option for Sporting to exercise a permanent transfer at the end of 2025.
Munoz, a dual citizen of the United States and Mexico, recorded six goals and six assists in 81 appearances for Santos Laguna since debuting for the club in 2020. He has played 73 matches in the top-flight LIGA MX while also featuring in Leagues Cup and competing for the Newcastle United U-21s in England from 2021-2023.
During the 2024-25 LIGA MX season, Munoz scored two goals across 15 Apertura matches prior to making an additional 12 Clausura appearances this spring.
On the international stage, Munoz has represented Mexico at the U-17, U-21 and U-23 levels, notably winning the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship and helping El Tri to a second-place finish at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He also played for Mexico’s senior national team in January, participating in exhibitions against Brazilian club SC Internacional and Argentine powerhouse River Plate.
#18 | D | LOGAN NDENBE
Height: 5-8 Weight: 170 Birthday: 2/9/2000
Hometown: La Louviere, Belgium
Last Club: EA Guingamp (France)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/14/2022
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 79 appearances for the club in all competitions, tallying three goals and two assists with two 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 1, April 19, 2025, KC at SJ
Assists 1, Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
Shots on Goal 1, 7 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Shots
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal April 19, 2025, KC at SJ
Assist Oct. 7, 2023, KC at RSL
2025 Record when: he starts 5-9-1 he scores 1-0-0
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.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 205
Hometown: Bakersfield, California
#1 | GK | JOHN PULSKAMP
Regular Season Game Highs: Goals Allowed 4, 4 times, last: June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL Saves 8, 2 times, last: July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Shutout May 17, 2025, KC at SD 2025 Record when: he starts 6-11-5
Birthday: 4/19/2001
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 51 regular-season appearances for the club in MLS play, tallying nine 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.
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 nine assists in 73 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, 7 times, last: May 10, 2025, KC at POR Fouls Suffered 6, March 15, 2025, KC vs. MIN
Last Regular Season... Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA Goal March 23, 2024, KC vs. LA Assist April 19, 2025, KC at SJ 2025 Record when: he starts 2-5-1
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 July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
Assist July 7, 2024, KC vs. DAL
2025 Record when: he starts 0-4-1 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 the Houston Dynamo 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 48 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, 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 Birthday: 10/6/1993
Hometown: Tumaco, Colombia
Last Club: Atletico Junior (Colombia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 3/2/2023
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 68 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
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 May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
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, 5 times, last: April 19, 2025, KC at SJ
Assists 2, 6 times, last: April 19, 2025, KC at SJ
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 July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
Assist May 31, 2025, KC at HOU
2025 Record when: he starts 5-7-3 he scores 1-1-2
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 17 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 65 goals and 47 assists in 276 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.
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
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 July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal June 10, 2023, KC vs. ATX
Assist June 8, 2024, KC vs. SEA
2025 Record when: he starts 4-6-2 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 181 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.
#93 | F | SHAPI SULEYMANOV
Height: 5-7
Weight: 155 Birthday: 12/16/1999
Hometown: Makhachkala, Russia
Last Club: Aris Thessaloniki (Greece)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 2/3/2025
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
Regular Season Game Highs:
Goals 1, 2 times, last:June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL
Assists 1, 4 times, last: May 14, 2025, KC at STL
Shots on Goal 1, 5 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Shots 3, 3 times, last: June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Fouls Committed 3, 2 times, last: July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Fouls Suffered 5, March 15, 2025, KC vs. MIN
Last Regular Season...
Appearance July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal June 14, 2025, KC vs. DAL
Assist May 14, 2025, KC at STL
2025 Record when: he starts 5-10-3 he scores 0-2-0
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 July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Goal July 4, 2025, KC at COL
Assist July 4, 2025, KC at COL
2025 Record when: he starts 3-5-4 he scores 2-1-1
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 20 goals and 24 assists in 115 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 July 12, 2025, KC vs. SEA
Goal June 25, 2025, KC vs. CLT
Assist June 21, 2023, MTL vs. NSH (w/ MTL)
2025 Record when: he starts 0-0-0 he scores 1-0-0
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 (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.
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
Last Club: NK Maribor (Slovenia)
Acquired: Acquired in transfer on 1/19/2022
Birthday: 5/9/2001
#4 | D | ROBERT VOLODER
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, 6 times, last: May 14, 2025, KC at STL Fouls Suffered 4, April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
Last Regular Season...
Appearance May 24, 2025, KC vs. NE
Goal Sept. 13, 2022, KC vs. DC
Assist April 7, 2024, KC vs. POR
2025 Record when: he starts 1-5-4 he scores 0-0-0
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 71 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
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
RECORDS (GOALKEEPERS)
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL ALL-TIME CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
GAMES STARTED Player GS
1. Graham Zusi
6. Mike Ammann
9. Garth Lagerwey 23 3
9. Chris Snitko
4. Bo Oshoniyi
6. Kevin Hartman
7.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY INDIVIDUAL SINGLE-SEASON CHARTS (MLS REGULAR SEASON)
Player GP SV
Tony Meola 31 129 2003 Tony Meola 30 121
Kevin Hartman 30 117
Bo Oshoniyi 32 112
Tim Melia 32 111
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
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)
