Sporting Kansas City announced the acquisition of midfielder Jimmy Medranda on Thursday, agreeing to terms on an undisclosed transfer fee with Deportivo Pereira in Colombia and signing Medranda to a multi-year contract. Medranda, who joined Sporting KC on loan last August, will be added to the team’s 2014 roster upon receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and will occupy the club’s fourth of eight available international roster spots.
"Jimmy is a good, young talent with a lot of potential," Manager Peter Vermes said. "It was a goal of ours to try to re-sign him at the end of this season as a Sporting Kansas City player as opposed to being on loan. We're excited to have been able to accomplish that goal."
"I am very happy to be here. I am happy to be back in the city and with my teammates again, now officially as a player for Sporting Kansas City," Medranda said. "I am going to work hard and do what is best for the team."
Medranda was part of the second youngest roster in Major League Soccer last season with Sporting KC and made his MLS debut in September at Sporting Park, becoming the youngest player to appear in a match for the club in 2013.
Of the 28 players currently under contract with the club, Sporting KC returns 26 from the team's 2013 MLS Cup championship season. Manager Peter Vermes added winger Sal Zizzo and goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum to a 2014 roster that accounts for 96.8% of all minutes logged by field players in MLS competition (including playoffs) last year.
Medranda arrived in Kansas City on Monday and will travel with the team to Orlando, Fla. on Friday for the 2014 Disney Pro Soccer Classic.
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City (MLS) signs midfielder Jimmy Medranda
Jimmy Medranda (muh-DRAHN-dah)
Position: Midfielder
Number: 94
Born: 2/7/94
Height: 5-5
Weight: 150
Hometown: Mosquera, Colombia
Birthplace: Mosquera, Colombia
Citizenship: Colombia
Twitter: @jimmymedranda
