Sporting Kansas City II has signed seven-year MLS veteran Dillon Serna, the club announced today. Still just 25 years old, Serna spent his career to date as a Homegrown player with the Colorado Rapids and will be added to the Sporting II roster pending league and federation approval.
Serna signed his first professional contract with the Colorado Rapids ahead of the 2013 MLS campaign, and went on to 112 appearances in all competitions for the club, tallying 12 goals and seven assists while playing in a variety of positions.
After making his professional debut against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on October 27, 2013, Serna solidified his place in the team the following year, starting 18 of 27 appearances in the 2014 MLS season and tallying a career-high three goals and four assists. He scored his first professional goal on April 26, 2014 against the Seattle Sounders.
Serna’s involvement in Colorado’s 2015 campaign was limited due to international appearances with the U.S. Under-23 National Team, yet he still managed five goals and one assist in only 16 appearances (nine starts) in all competitions – including his first brace in a U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round clash against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. A knee injury curtailed his 2016 season as he made just nine appearances at the start of the year.
The Brighton, Colorado native’s game time shot back up in 2017 and 2018, playing in 39 games (19 starts) and logging over 2,000 combined minutes. His final season with the Rapids in 2019 saw Serna start six of 14 appearances – including a start against Sporting KC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 17, 2019. His final appearance with the Rapids came on September 7, 2019 in a 2-0 win against the eventual MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC.
Serna spent one season at the University of Akron prior to signing as a Homegrown with the Rapids, tallying two goals and eight assists as a freshman – earning Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Freshman of the Year honors in 2012.
Serna joined the Colorado Rapids Academy in 2009 and was quickly noticed by the U.S. National Team program who invited him to join the U.S. U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida. Serna returned to Colorado for the 2011-12 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season, leading the U-18 team with 12 goals.
Internationally, Serna has represented the U.S. at U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels – including playing at the 2011 Concacaf U-17 Championship and the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico. He then represented the U-20s extensively but was not named to the squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Serna went on to play for the U.S. U-23s in Olympic Qualifying in 2015 and 2016, while he also earned his first senior national team call-up for the annual January Camp in 2015 but did not make earn his first cap.
VITALS
Dillon Serna
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Born: 3/25/1994 (25 years old)
Height: 5-7
Weight: 140 lbs.
College: University of Akron
Hometown: Brighton, Colorado
Birthplace: Thornton, Colorado
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @SernaDillon
Instagram: @dillon1710
