With the likes of Felipe Gutierrez, Johnny Russell and Yohan Croizet inching closer and closer to their MLS debuts, it’s safe to say that Sporting Kansas City — and just about every other club across the league, for that matter — has been busy this offseason.
It was only on Wednesday, however, that Major League Soccer’s primary transfer window officially began. The early-season window will remain open until closing at 10:59 p.m. CT on May 1.
- 2018 MLS Primary Transfer Window: Feb. 7 – May 1
- 2018 MLS Secondary Transfer Window: July 10 – Aug. 8
During the primary transfer window, MLS clubs can request International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) from players' former clubs to complete signings, loans and transfer deals.
While deals can otherwise be completed outside the transfer windows, receipt of a player's ITC is required in order to add players to official rosters and for those players to be eligible to play in competitive matches. Such is the case for Gutierrez, Russell and Croizet, three of Sporting KC’s recent international imports.
The transfer window also permits trades between MLS clubs for players. In accordance with the primary transfer window, the trade period for MLS players is open until May 1, and will open again for the secondary transfer window in the summer. The secondary transfer window for the 2018 MLS season will run from July 10 to Aug. 8.
It’s important to note that MLS trades for non-player assets, including international roster slots, allocation money, allocations order slots and MLS SuperDraft picks, can take place at any time, even outside the transfer window periods.
For a full list of Sporting KC’s offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/tracker. Manager Peter Vermes’ men kick off the 2018 campaign at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday, March 4, hosting New York City FC at 6:30 p.m. CT in a nationally televised showdown on FS1. Tickets for the match are available now at SeatGeek.com.
