
Sporting KC Announces Roster Moves for 2022 Season
November 30, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has exercised contract options for Felipe Hernandez and Jaylin Lindsey ahead of the 2022 MLS season.
Sporting have declined contract options for Amadou Dia, Wilson Harris, Luis Martins, Roberto Puncec, Ilie Sanchez and Brooks Thompson. Additionally, Graham Smith is out of contract with the club.
Sporting are currently in discussions with Roger Espinoza, Kendall McIntosh and Graham Zusi, all of whom are out of contract with the club. These discussions began following the conclusion of Sporting's 2021 season.
Sporting now have 20 players under contract for the 2022 season: Hernandez and Lindsey plus the 18 players who were already under contract in 2022.
Sporting KC players under contract in 2022
Goalkeepers (2): Tim Melia, John Pulskamp
Defenders (5): Andreu Fontas, Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, Jaylin Lindsey, Kayden Pierre, Kaveh Rad
Midfielders (7): Ozzie Cisneros, Jake Davis, Cam Duke, Felipe Hernandez, Gadi Kinda, Jose Mauri, Remi Walter
Forwards (6): Grayson Barber, Tyler Freeman, Alan Pulido, Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, Khiry Shelton
The calendar of Major League Soccer's offseason roster-building events is listed below. Sporting will have the opportunity to protect up to 12 players in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft, which will see expansion club Charlotte FC add up to five players to its roster for the 2022 campaign. Homegrown Players will be automatically protected in the MLS Expansion Draft.
MLS Offseason Roster Mechanisms
Sunday, Dec. 12: Half-day trade window (8 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT)
Tuesday, Dec. 14: MLS Expansion Draft (time TBD)
Wednesday, Dec. 15: End-of-Year Waivers (12 p.m. CT)
Wednesday, Dec. 15: Free Agency opens (12 p.m. CT)
Friday, Dec. 17: Re-Entry Process, Stage 1 (12 p.m. CT)
Thursday, Dec. 23: Re-Entry Process, Stage 2 (12 p.m. CT)
Tuesday, Jan. 11: 2022 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas (time TBD)
Sporting's roster will continue to take shape in the buildup to the club's 2022 MLS campaign, which will kick off on Feb. 27 at Atlanta United FC. For a full list of Sporting's offseason roster moves, visit SportingKC.com/news/tracker.
Sporting Kansas City II also announced its roster moves today in preparation for next season. Aljaz Dzankic and Jahon Rad have agreed to contracts with SKC II in 2022, while Enoch Mushagalusa is currently in contract negotiations with the club. SKC II is also in discussions with Isaiah LeFlore, who was on an academy contract with the club in 2021.
Sporting KC II has declined contract options for Matt Constant, Petar Cuic, Ropapa Mensah, Jamil Roberts and Rojay Smith, while Danny Barbir, Christian Duke and Remi Prieur are out of contract with the club.
The following seven players competed for Sporting KC II on amateur academy contracts in 2021 and remain age-eligible to play with the Sporting KC Academy: Mataeo Bunbury, Daniel Gutierrez, Dylan Hooper, Coby Jones, Michael Lenis, Zion Long and Jayvin Van Deventer.
Gavin Krenecki, Bailey Sparks and Max Trejo were also on amateur academy contracts in 2021 and have left the club to begin their college soccer careers.
Sporting KC II has begun its head coaching search for the 2022 season after Paulo Nagamura left the club earlier this month to pursue other professional opportunities.
Major League Soccer Stories from November 30, 2021
- MLS to Crown Eastern and Western Conference Champions this Weekend - MLS
- NYCFC Wins 5-4 on PKs - New York City FC
- Houston Dynamo FC Exercise 2022 Contract Options on Seven Players - Houston Dynamo FC
- Eric Krakauer on Becoming the Voice of Charlotte FC - Charlotte FC
- FC Dallas Announces Roster Decisions for 2022 Season - FC Dallas
- Inter Miami to Host Art Battle Contest Presented by Heineken - Inter Miami CF
- CF Montréal Exercises Options for 12 Players - Club de Foot Montreal
- Rapids' Semifinal Match with Portland Breaks FOX Viewership Record - Colorado Rapids
- Sporting KC Announces Roster Moves for 2022 Season - Sporting Kansas City
- Inter Miami CF Hosts Second Edition of the Copa de la Familia Presented by Wendy's - Inter Miami CF
- Offseason Check-In with Chris Albright - FC Cincinnati
- Whitecaps FC Commit to Friendly in the Fraser Valley in the New Year - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Santiago Sosa Undergoes Successful Sports Hernia Surgery - Atlanta United FC
- Red Bull Arena Named 2021 Professional Soccer Field of the Year - New York Red Bulls
- Alfredo Morales: We're Not Underdogs - New York City FC
- Academy U-13 and U-14 Teams Win 2021 Copa Rayados International Titles - Inter Miami CF
- Minnesota United Signs New Contract for Goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair - Minnesota United FC
- Nashville SC Signs Partnership with Transcard, Including Transcard Terrace at Nashville SC Stadium - Nashville SC
- Austin FC Announce Roster Decisions Ahead of 2022 Season - Austin FC
- Whitecaps FC Name Vanni Sartini First Team Head Coach - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Justin Morrow Named MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year - MLS
- Justin Morrow Named 2021 MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year - Toronto FC
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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