With just over one week of the 2024 preseason presented by Children's Mercy Kansas City in the books, Sporting Kansas City announced updates to the club's preseason roster.
Sporting KC Academy defender Ian James has joined the team down in Miami, along with former Houston Dynamo, Austin FC and LA Galaxy midfielder Memo Rodriguez who is on trial with the club. In addition, Sporting KC Academy goalkeeper Jack Kortkamp has returned to Kansas City following a 10-day training stint with the first team in Florida.
The team kicked off preseason training on Jan. 14 in Miami Shores, Fla. and will remain there until Jan. 31. Sporting will return from Feb. 4-17 in preparation for the upcoming Major League Soccer season.
Sporting claimed a 4-1 victory over Florida International University this past Saturday in their preseason opener and the club has four further closed-door scrimmages on the docket as Sporting plays Charlotte FC on Jan. 26, Nashville SC on Jan. 30, local USL Championship side Miami FC on Feb. 10 and Atlanta United FC on Feb. 17. For live coverage of the club's preseason exhibitions, fans can follow @SKCMatchday on Twitter.
Date | Time (CT) | Opponent | Location/Result |
|---|---|---|---|
Saturday, Jan. 20 | 12:30 p.m. | Florida International University | |
Friday, Jan. 26 | 10 a.m. | Charlotte FC | Miami, Fla. |
Tuesday, Jan. 30 | 11 a.m. | Nashville SC | West Palm Beach, Fla. |
Saturday, Feb. 10 | 10 a.m. | Miami FC | Miami, Fla. |
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 10 a.m. | Atlanta United FC | Miami Shores, Fla. |
Sporting’s preseason roster features 25 of the club’s 26 players under MLS contract for the 2024 season, including newcomers Zorhan Bassong and Alenis Vargas. Left back Logan Ndenbe will not travel to Florida as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL suffered during the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The preseason squad also includes three Sporting KC II players — Ethan Bryant, Nati Clarke and Sebastian Cruz — as well as trialists Jacori Hayes and Memo Rodriguez, unsigned MLS SuperDraft picks Jonathan Robinson and Ryan Schewe, and Sporting KC Academy trio Jacob Bartlett, Ian James and Cielo Tschantret.
# | Player | Position | Seasons with SKC |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Pulskamp | Goalkeeper | 5th season |
3 | Andreu Fontas | Defender | 7th season |
4 | Robert Voloder | Defender | 3rd season |
5 | Dany Rosero | Defender | 2nd season |
6 | Nemanja Radoja | Midfielder | 2nd season |
7 | Johnny Russell | Forward | 7th season |
9 | Alan Pulido | Forward | 5th season |
11 | Khiry Shelton | Forward | 6th season (9th in MLS) |
14 | Tim Leibold | Defender | 2nd season |
17 | Jake Davis | Defender | 4th season |
18 | Logan Ndenbe (INJ) | Defender | 3rd season |
19 | Robert Castellanos | Defender | 2nd season (4th in MLS) |
20 | Daniel Salloi | Forward | 9th season |
21 | Felipe Hernandez | Midfielder | 6th season |
23 | Willy Agada | Forward | 3rd season |
24 | Kayden Pierre | Defender | 4th season |
25 | Ozzie Cisneros | Forward | 4th season |
26 | Erik Thommy | Midfielder | 3rd season |
29 | Tim Melia | Goalkeeper | 9th season (14th in MLS) |
30 | Stephen Afrifa | Forward | 2nd season |
31 | Danny Flores | Midfielder | 2nd season |
54 | Remi Walter | Midfielder | 4th season |
77 | Marinos Tzionis | Forward | 3rd season |
82 | Chris Rindov | Defender | 2nd season |
Zorhan Bassong | Defender | 1st season (3rd in MLS) | |
Alenis Vargas | Forward | 1st season |
Player | Position | Note |
Jacob Bartlett | Defender | Sporting KC Academy |
Ethan Bryant | Midfielder | Sporting KC II |
Nati Clarke | Defender | Sporting KC II |
Sebastian Cruz | Forward | Sporting KC II |
Jacori Hayes | Midfielder | Trialist |
Ian James | Defender | Sporting KC Academy |
Jonathan Robinson | Defender | Unsigned SuperDraft Pick |
Memo Rodriguez | Midfielder | Trialist |
Ryan Schewe | Goalkeeper | Unsigned SuperDraft Pick |
Cielo Tschantret | Defender | Sporting KC Academy |
Note: MLS SuperDraft 2024 selection Dyson Clapier will return to the University of Akron for a fifth college season and will be placed on Sporting's College Protected List.
Sporting Kansas City will kick off the 2024 regular season on the road at reigning U.S. Open Cup champions Houston Dynamo FC on Feb. 24 with the earliest MLS match in club history. One week later, Sporting will host perennial Eastern Conference powers Philadelphia Union for the club's highly anticipated home opener on March 2 at Children's Mercy Park.
