Sporting KC announced a major roster addition on Tuesday, confirming they have sealed the deal for former France youth international Remi Walter.

Walter, who plays as a midfielder, comes to the MLS as a free agent after spending time with Turkish team Yeni Malatyaspor earlier this year. The 25-year-old player inked a three-year deal that will keep him with Sporting KC through the 2023 MLS season. The contract also has a club option for 2024.

Sporting KC hopes that the addition of Walter, their first move this offseason, will help the club build on their 2020 success when they won the Western Conference in the regular season.

“Remi Walter is an experienced midfielder who will add quality to our team,” said manager Peter Vermes in a statement. “We are happy to welcome him to Kansas City and look forward to his quick adaptation within our club.”

Remi Walter started his career with Nancy in 2012, where he made his pro debut as a 17-year-old. He went on to make 71 appearances for the club before securing a transfer to Nice in 2016. He also had a brief stint with Troyes.

Walter played for almost all France youth teams on the international level, which included making 11 appearances for the U-21 team between 2015 and 2016.

Look for him to make a splash in this new MLS chapter of his burgeoning career.

The post Sporting KC Sign Ex-France Youth International Remi Walter appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After the Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and Atlanta United all bowed out of the CONCACAF Champions League, Sporting KC was the only MLS team with a chance to continue in the competition.

They kept the MLS alive in the competition, defeating Independiente de la Chorrera 3-0 on Thursday night to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Kansas City faced an uphill climb to qualify for the next round after losing 2-1 in the first leg of the draw in Panama.

However, after a frustrating first half in which their attacks on goal constantly came up short, they broke through in the second half and advanced after scoring three goals in rapid succession.

It looked for a while that Sporting KC would come up short due to brilliant goalkeeping by Independiente keeper Jose Guerra, who saved several on-target shots until Sporting broke through in the 74th minute.

Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth vollied home a goal after a corner kick to give Sporting KC the goal that it needed.

The MLS side kept pushing, and got another goal after a textbook Johnny Russell assist to Roger Espinoza, putting KC up 2-0 only 7 minutes after the first goal.

Nemeth wasn’t done, however, and scored his second goal of the evening in the 86th minute to seal the team’s 3-0 victory.

Sporting will now face Monterrey in the competition’s semi-finals.

The post Sporting Kansas City Advances to CONCACAF Champions League Semis appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday that they have signed former U.S. youth international midfielder Gedion Zelalem from Premier League side Arsenal. Zelalem will join Sporting KC on one year deal which has a team option for 2020 and 2021.

The deal was confirmed on the team’s official social media.

“Gedion is a talented player, and we are excited to welcome him to the club,” – said Sporting KC manager and sporting director Peter Vermes in a statement. “We look forward to his integration into the squad as the team competes in multiple competitions throughout the season.”

Gedion Zelalem spent his early career in Arsenal’s youth academy and made his professional debut in 2014 in FA Cup. He never managed to break into the first team and had loan stints with Scottish side Rangers and Netherland’s VVV-Venlo. The 22-year-old spent 2018 with Arsenal but didn’t make any appearances.

“I’m really excited to have this opportunity. The league is growing, and a lot of players have hit me up saying, ‘I want to come to the league, it looks like a good league.’ I can’t wait to play,” – Zelalem told ESPN. “I just spoke to [Vermes]. We were just talking about formations and where he sees me. He sees me in the midfield, in any of the three [positions] really. He just told me to be patient at first, and they’ll assess how my fitness is at the moment, and they’ll go based on that.”

Born in Germany, Zelalem played for country’s youth teams before changing his international allegiance and debuting for United States U20 in 2015. He also made five appearances for United States U23 but never made a first-team debut.

The post Sporting Kansas City Signs U.S. International Midfielder Gedion Zelalem appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City already started preparations for the 2019 MLS season, adding defender Rodney Wallace and forward Erik Hurtado to their roster over the weekend.

Wallace, who spent the last two seasons with New York City FC and contributed five goals and eight assists during that time, signed a one-year deal as a free-agent.

Tour of Pinnacle
Pen to paper
Pose with PV @rodwallace22 is official. pic.twitter.com/QcGxznQDav

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) December 14, 2018

“Sporting KC is a passionate club that knows how to win,” – said Wallace in a statement. “There are a lot of key aspects here to winning, from the players and staff to the facilities and fans. The soccer atmosphere in Kansas City gives the team that extra edge, and I am excited to come here and be a part of something special.”

Rodney Wallace started his professional career with D.C. United in 2009, before making a move to Portland Timbers in 2011. He spent five seasons in Portland, earning one All-Star appearance and winning an MLS Cup in 2015. After shorts stints in Portugal and Brazil, Wallace returned to the United States in 2017 to play for New York.

Besides Wallace, Sporting Kansas City went on and acquired Hurtado in a trade with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In order to get the 28-year-old, Sporting parted with a second-round draft pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021.

And another!#WelcomeToSporting @Etado19!

» https://t.co/08y0StMFNO pic.twitter.com/k4vcUoUXtv

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) December 14, 2018

Erik Hurtado spent almost his entire professional career with the Whitecaps playing 105 MLS matches and contributing with 12 goals and 10 assists. He played 12 games last season and managed two goals and one assist.

The post Sporting Kansas City Adds Rodney Wallace and Erik Hurtado appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It looks like Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes will not take over the United States men’s national soccer team despite the recent speculations. Sporting reacted swiftly and signed Vermes to a five-year extension which will see him staying with the team through 2023 season.

“I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to lead this club,” – said Vermes in a statement. “Our ownership group has shown tremendous ambition over the last decade, and I am proud to be involved in a first-class organization that continues to grow and evolve at Sporting KC.“

Peter Vermes is currently the coach with the longest tenure in the Major League Soccer, taking over Sporting Kansas City in 2009. Since then, he led the team to the 2013 MLS Cup win alongside three U.S. Open Cup titles. Sporting opened the 2018 season with a 6-2-2 record and currently sits at the top of the Western Conference.

“This is a great day for Sporting Kansas City,” – said the team’s co-owner Mike Illig. “Peter has become one of the most successful managers in the history of Major League Soccer, and we are delighted to extend his contract at the club. This long-term deal shows commitment from the organization and from Peter, who has helped the club accomplish remarkable things on and off the field for the last decade.“

Peter Vermes played soccer professionally as a defender, spending the majority of his career in MLS with stints in Hungary, Netherlands, and Spain. He was the member of Sporting Kansas City from 2000 to 2003, playing in 78 games for the team and winning MLS Cup in the process.

Vermes was also a part of the USMNT, receiving 66 caps and being a member of the U.S. team for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The post Sporting Kansas City Sign Coach Peter Vermes to a Five-Year Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City announced that they have signed Chile’s midfielder Felipe Gutierrez as a designated player. Gutierrez will sign a three-year deal with the team, with a team option for the fourth year. Gutierrez comes to Sporting Kansas City after agreeing to contract termination with Spain’s Real Betis.

“Felipe has a tremendous amount of experience playing in very difficult environments in top-level competitions,” – said Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes in a statement. “He also possesses the DNA that we look for in players that fit our style. He is excited about joining the club and we are ecstatic for him to be a part of our team.“

Felipe Gutierrez started his professional soccer career with Chile’s Universidad Católica in 2009, playing 65 games for the team and scoring on 19 occasions in three years. He then joined Netherland’s FC Twente in 2012, which paid $4 million for his services. Although he had issues with a knee injury during his time with the team, Gutierrez was one of Twente’s most important players, winning the Most Valuable Player of the Eredivisie Award in 2014. In 2016, he decided to join Real Betis, who was newly promoted side in the Spanish top division, La Liga. He never managed to find his ground with Betis and was eventually loaned to Brazil’s Internacional in 2017, so he could find playing time. Felipe Gutierrez was also a regular member of Chile’s national team, playing in 35 games since 2010 and scoring 4 goals.

With Gutierrez’s arrival and previous signing of Yohan Croizet, Sporting Kansas City now has two designated players too many on their roster. The team will have to choose two contracts between the ones from Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, and Gerso Fernandes to buy down using targeted allocation money before the 2018 MLS season starts.

3⃣5⃣ caps for @LaRoja #WorldCup veteran #CopaAmerica champion
Former @eredivisie MVP
Nearly 250 club appearances

Welcome to @cmpark, Felipe Gutierrez! pic.twitter.com/78UZEJGOLu

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 6, 2018

The post Sporting Kansas City Signs Chile International Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting KC announced a major roster addition on Tuesday, confirming they have sealed the deal for former France youth international Remi Walter.

Walter, who plays as a midfielder, comes to the MLS as a free agent after spending time with Turkish team Yeni Malatyaspor earlier this year. The 25-year-old player inked a three-year deal that will keep him with Sporting KC through the 2023 MLS season. The contract also has a club option for 2024.

Sporting KC hopes that the addition of Walter, their first move this offseason, will help the club build on their 2020 success when they won the Western Conference in the regular season.

“Remi Walter is an experienced midfielder who will add quality to our team,” said manager Peter Vermes in a statement. “We are happy to welcome him to Kansas City and look forward to his quick adaptation within our club.”

Remi Walter started his career with Nancy in 2012, where he made his pro debut as a 17-year-old. He went on to make 71 appearances for the club before securing a transfer to Nice in 2016. He also had a brief stint with Troyes.

Walter played for almost all France youth teams on the international level, which included making 11 appearances for the U-21 team between 2015 and 2016.

Look for him to make a splash in this new MLS chapter of his burgeoning career.

The post Sporting KC Sign Ex-France Youth International Remi Walter appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After the Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, and Atlanta United all bowed out of the CONCACAF Champions League, Sporting KC was the only MLS team with a chance to continue in the competition.

They kept the MLS alive in the competition, defeating Independiente de la Chorrera 3-0 on Thursday night to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Kansas City faced an uphill climb to qualify for the next round after losing 2-1 in the first leg of the draw in Panama.

However, after a frustrating first half in which their attacks on goal constantly came up short, they broke through in the second half and advanced after scoring three goals in rapid succession.

It looked for a while that Sporting KC would come up short due to brilliant goalkeeping by Independiente keeper Jose Guerra, who saved several on-target shots until Sporting broke through in the 74th minute.

Hungarian forward Krisztian Nemeth vollied home a goal after a corner kick to give Sporting KC the goal that it needed.

The MLS side kept pushing, and got another goal after a textbook Johnny Russell assist to Roger Espinoza, putting KC up 2-0 only 7 minutes after the first goal.

Nemeth wasn’t done, however, and scored his second goal of the evening in the 86th minute to seal the team’s 3-0 victory.

Sporting will now face Monterrey in the competition’s semi-finals.

The post Sporting Kansas City Advances to CONCACAF Champions League Semis appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City announced on Monday that they have signed former U.S. youth international midfielder Gedion Zelalem from Premier League side Arsenal. Zelalem will join Sporting KC on one year deal which has a team option for 2020 and 2021.

The deal was confirmed on the team’s official social media.

“Gedion is a talented player, and we are excited to welcome him to the club,” – said Sporting KC manager and sporting director Peter Vermes in a statement. “We look forward to his integration into the squad as the team competes in multiple competitions throughout the season.”

Gedion Zelalem spent his early career in Arsenal’s youth academy and made his professional debut in 2014 in FA Cup. He never managed to break into the first team and had loan stints with Scottish side Rangers and Netherland’s VVV-Venlo. The 22-year-old spent 2018 with Arsenal but didn’t make any appearances.

“I’m really excited to have this opportunity. The league is growing, and a lot of players have hit me up saying, ‘I want to come to the league, it looks like a good league.’ I can’t wait to play,” – Zelalem told ESPN. “I just spoke to [Vermes]. We were just talking about formations and where he sees me. He sees me in the midfield, in any of the three [positions] really. He just told me to be patient at first, and they’ll assess how my fitness is at the moment, and they’ll go based on that.”

Born in Germany, Zelalem played for country’s youth teams before changing his international allegiance and debuting for United States U20 in 2015. He also made five appearances for United States U23 but never made a first-team debut.

The post Sporting Kansas City Signs U.S. International Midfielder Gedion Zelalem appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City already started preparations for the 2019 MLS season, adding defender Rodney Wallace and forward Erik Hurtado to their roster over the weekend.

Wallace, who spent the last two seasons with New York City FC and contributed five goals and eight assists during that time, signed a one-year deal as a free-agent.

Tour of Pinnacle
Pen to paper
Pose with PV @rodwallace22 is official. pic.twitter.com/QcGxznQDav

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) December 14, 2018

“Sporting KC is a passionate club that knows how to win,” – said Wallace in a statement. “There are a lot of key aspects here to winning, from the players and staff to the facilities and fans. The soccer atmosphere in Kansas City gives the team that extra edge, and I am excited to come here and be a part of something special.”

Rodney Wallace started his professional career with D.C. United in 2009, before making a move to Portland Timbers in 2011. He spent five seasons in Portland, earning one All-Star appearance and winning an MLS Cup in 2015. After shorts stints in Portugal and Brazil, Wallace returned to the United States in 2017 to play for New York.

Besides Wallace, Sporting Kansas City went on and acquired Hurtado in a trade with Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In order to get the 28-year-old, Sporting parted with a second-round draft pick in 2020 and a first-round pick in 2021.

And another!#WelcomeToSporting @Etado19!

» https://t.co/08y0StMFNO pic.twitter.com/k4vcUoUXtv

— Sporting KC (@SportingKC) December 14, 2018

Erik Hurtado spent almost his entire professional career with the Whitecaps playing 105 MLS matches and contributing with 12 goals and 10 assists. He played 12 games last season and managed two goals and one assist.

The post Sporting Kansas City Adds Rodney Wallace and Erik Hurtado appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It looks like Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes will not take over the United States men’s national soccer team despite the recent speculations. Sporting reacted swiftly and signed Vermes to a five-year extension which will see him staying with the team through 2023 season.

“I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to lead this club,” – said Vermes in a statement. “Our ownership group has shown tremendous ambition over the last decade, and I am proud to be involved in a first-class organization that continues to grow and evolve at Sporting KC.“

Peter Vermes is currently the coach with the longest tenure in the Major League Soccer, taking over Sporting Kansas City in 2009. Since then, he led the team to the 2013 MLS Cup win alongside three U.S. Open Cup titles. Sporting opened the 2018 season with a 6-2-2 record and currently sits at the top of the Western Conference.

“This is a great day for Sporting Kansas City,” – said the team’s co-owner Mike Illig. “Peter has become one of the most successful managers in the history of Major League Soccer, and we are delighted to extend his contract at the club. This long-term deal shows commitment from the organization and from Peter, who has helped the club accomplish remarkable things on and off the field for the last decade.“

Peter Vermes played soccer professionally as a defender, spending the majority of his career in MLS with stints in Hungary, Netherlands, and Spain. He was the member of Sporting Kansas City from 2000 to 2003, playing in 78 games for the team and winning MLS Cup in the process.

Vermes was also a part of the USMNT, receiving 66 caps and being a member of the U.S. team for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

The post Sporting Kansas City Sign Coach Peter Vermes to a Five-Year Extension appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Sporting Kansas City announced that they have signed Chile’s midfielder Felipe Gutierrez as a designated player. Gutierrez will sign a three-year deal with the team, with a team option for the fourth year. Gutierrez comes to Sporting Kansas City after agreeing to contract termination with Spain’s Real Betis.

“Felipe has a tremendous amount of experience playing in very difficult environments in top-level competitions,” – said Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes in a statement. “He also possesses the DNA that we look for in players that fit our style. He is excited about joining the club and we are ecstatic for him to be a part of our team.“

Felipe Gutierrez started his professional soccer career with Chile’s Universidad Católica in 2009, playing 65 games for the team and scoring on 19 occasions in three years. He then joined Netherland’s FC Twente in 2012, which paid $4 million for his services. Although he had issues with a knee injury during his time with the team, Gutierrez was one of Twente’s most important players, winning the Most Valuable Player of the Eredivisie Award in 2014. In 2016, he decided to join Real Betis, who was newly promoted side in the Spanish top division, La Liga. He never managed to find his ground with Betis and was eventually loaned to Brazil’s Internacional in 2017, so he could find playing time. Felipe Gutierrez was also a regular member of Chile’s national team, playing in 35 games since 2010 and scoring 4 goals.

With Gutierrez’s arrival and previous signing of Yohan Croizet, Sporting Kansas City now has two designated players too many on their roster. The team will have to choose two contracts between the ones from Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza, and Gerso Fernandes to buy down using targeted allocation money before the 2018 MLS season starts.

3⃣5⃣ caps for @LaRoja #WorldCup veteran #CopaAmerica champion
Former @eredivisie MVP
Nearly 250 club appearances

Welcome to @cmpark, Felipe Gutierrez! pic.twitter.com/78UZEJGOLu

— Sporting Kansas City (@SportingKC) February 6, 2018

The post Sporting Kansas City Signs Chile International Midfielder Felipe Gutierrez appeared first on SportzBonanza.