Major League Soccer announced today that Sporting Kansas City has protected the following 12 players ahead of the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday.
- Goalkeepers (2): Tim Melia, Adrian Zendejas
- Defenders (4): Matt Besler, Luis Martins, Graham Smith, Graham Zusi
- Midfielders (3): Felipe Gutierrez, Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sanchez
- Forwards (3): Gerso Fernandes, Erik Hurtado, Johnny Russell
Additionally, Gianluca Busio, Cameron Duke, Tyler Freeman, Felipe Hernandez, Wan Kuzain, Jaylin Lindsey and Daniel Salloi are automatically protected as Homegrown Players.
The following 10 Sporting players will be eligible for selection in the MLS Expansion Draft:
- Goalkeepers (1): Eric Dick
- Defenders (5): Botond Barath, Andreu Fontas, Nico Hasler, Seth Sinovic, Rodney Wallace
- Midfielders (3): Benny Feilhaber, Jimmy Medranda, Gedion Zelalem
- Forwards (1): Krisztian Nemeth
The MLS Expansion Draft will stream live on MLSsoccer.com at 4:30 p.m. CT Tuesday. Inter Miami CF and Nashville SC will add up to five players to their rosters in preparation for their inaugural 2020 campaigns. Per MLS Expansion Draft rules, only a single player can be drafted from any one club. Once one player has been claimed from a club’s unprotected roster, that club is removed from the Expansion Draft and may not lose any further players.
The following five teams, which had players selected by FC Cincinnati during the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft, are exempt from the 2019 Expansion Draft: D.C. United, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and New York Red Bulls.
Ten Sporting players have been taken in previous MLS expansion drafts.
<strong>YEAR</strong> |
<strong>POS</strong> |
<strong>PLAYER</strong> |
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<div>1997</div> |
<div>MID</div> |
<div>Diego Gutierrez</div> |
<div>Chicago Fire</div> |
<div>2004</div> |
<div>MID</div> |
<div>Francisco Gomez</div> |
<div>Chivas USA</div> |
<div>2004</div> |
<div>FWD</div> |
<div>Matt Taylor</div> |
<div>Chivas USA</div> |
<div>2006</div> |
<div>GK</div> |
<div>William Hesmer</div> |
<div>Toronto FC</div> |
<div>2008</div> |
<div>DEF</div> |
<div>Tyson Wahl</div> |
<div>Seattle Sounders FC</div> |
<div>2010</div> |
<div>DEF</div> |
<div>Jonathan Leathers</div> |
<div>Vancouver Whitecaps FC</div> |
<div>2011</div> |
<div>DEF</div> |
<div>Seth Sinovic</div> |
<div>Montreal Impact</div> |
<div>2014</div> |
<div>MID</div> |
<div>Sal Zizzo</div> |
<div>New York City FC</div> |
<div>2016</div> |
<div>GK</div> |
<div>Alec Kann</div> |
<div>Atlanta United FC</div> |
<div>2017</div> |
<div>FWD</div> |
<div>Latif Blessing</div> |
<div>LAFC</div> |
