A native of Michigan, Kayden Pierre signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player on May 4, 2021. Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native state. He went on to represent Sporting at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels, making upwards of 60 academy appearances and guiding the U-17s to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in 2019. While in Kansas City, Pierre has lived with a host family through a program currently supported by the Audi Goals Drive Progress initiative.
Capable of playing at both outside back positions, Pierre gained his first professional experience during the latter half of 2020 when he signed an amateur academy contract for Sporting KC II. His first professional season was spent mostly with Sporting KC II, where he started in 26 of 28 matches during the 2021 USL Championship campaign and finished second on the team in minutes (2,252) while recording two assists.
2022: Made his MLS debut on March 12 in a match at the Colorado Rapids. MLS Regular Season: Started nine of 19 appearances and picked up his first MLS assist (949 minutes played). Made his first MLS start on July 3 against the New York Red Bulls, playing all 90 minutes. Earned his first assist after setting up Johnny Russell's equalizing goal in a 1-1 draw at Minnesota United on July 13. Open Cup: Started two of three appearances in Sporting's Open Cup run (190 minutes played).
2021: Signed a first-team contract on May 4 but spent most of the season with Sporting KC II. Leagues Cup: Made his first team debut on Aug. 11 in Sporting's Leagues Cup fixture with Leon. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature USL Championship: Made 28 appearances for Sporting KC II in their final season in USL Championship. Scored one goal and picked up two assists.
2020: Signed an Academy contract with Sporting KC II and made three appearances in the latter half of the season.
SKC Academy
Pierre joined the Sporting KC Academy in 2018 from Vardar SC in his native Michigan. Since then, Pierre has made 59 appearances for the Academy while advancing from the Under-15 age group up to the Under-17s and Under-19s.
Vardar SC
Pierre represented Vardar through the Under-15 level, playing in 33 games for the Michigan-based club.
International: Pierre was called in to the U.S. Under-16 National Team for a training camp in California in September 2019. His first call-up to the U.S. U-16s came in June 2018 which involved a trip to Bradenton. Prior to that, Pierre was selected for training camps with the U.S. U-14s in 2016 and 2017. Pierre competed with the U.S. U-20s in November 2021 at the Revelations Cup in Celaya, Mexico. He appeared in all three matches at the tournament, marking the U-20 MNT’s return to action for the first time since January 2020 after the 2020 Concacaf U-20 Championship and 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup were canceled due to Covid-19. Named to the United States U-20 Men’s National Team for a domestic training camp in Frisco, Texas on Oct. 25, 2022
