Sporting Kansas City acquired the rights to defender/midfielder Luke Sassano on Wednesday in a trade with the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Galaxy receive the rights to defender Frankie Hejduk, who Kansas City selected with the eighth overall pick in Major League Soccer’s Stage 2 Draft of the 2010 Re-Entry Process on Wednesday. Sporting Kansas City’s two players eligible for selection, defender Jimmy Conrad and forward Josh Wolff, were taken with the first two picks of the draft by D.C. United and Chivas USA, respectively.
Sassano, a 25-year-old defender/midfielder, was taken by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the first round of Wednesday’s Stage 2 Re-Entry Draft after having his option declined by New York, where he played the last three seasons. Sporting Kansas City subsequently acquired the rights to Sassano from the Galaxy in exchange for the rights to Frankie Hejduk, Kansas City’s lone selection in the Stage 2 Re-Entry draft. Kansas City can now negotiate to sign Sassano for the 2011 season.
Sassano, drafted by the Red Bulls in the third round of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, played in 42 games, including postseason, for New York over the past three years. He made 22 appearances in his rookie season, including starts in all four postseason matches as the Red Bulls reached their first ever MLS Cup in 2008. He then played in 17 games in 2009 and three games last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury mid-season.
