Rumor: Alan Pulido linked with Chivas Return

It seemingly happens every few months. Sporting Kansas City’s Designated Player, Alan Pulido, is linked with a return to his previous club, Chivas Guadalajara. The Liga MX giants finished mid table in the Apertura but may be looking to reload for the Clausura.

I know what you are saying, ‘we’ve heard this before.’ But perhaps, there is smoke coming from an actual fire. While other rumors are sometimes lightly sourced or a rogue Instagram or Twitter account with no backing, there are two well placed reporters talking about this rumor.

The first report is from TUDN MX’s Erick Lopez. With a subsequent report from Cesar Luis Merlo in Mexico’s AM Newspaper.

Then today came a follow-up from Lopez which we’ll let Google Translate handle.

🔴⚪️ PULIDO CADA VEZ MÁS CERCA Y NOVELA CHIQUETE podría llegar a su fin.@TUDNMEX @TUDNUSA @aniveldecancha_ pic.twitter.com/QcssdkpQbW

— Erick López 🛸 (@_ericklo) January 6, 2025

“Friends of TUDN Digital, Alan Pulido’s return is getting closer and closer to el Rebaño. This Sunday he completed the physical tests; this Monday he will have to complete the medical exams and then well the board would be practically with this entire part of the clinical protocol to be able to establish the signing of the contract that today belongs to Sporting Kansas City and that Guadalajara will be purchasing the rights from this MLS team. Arranging and of course with the footballer so that he can play with the Guadalajara team in 2025. And he can live his second stage in the team el Rebaño where he was already league champion, champion with Kaka and scoring champion, and he said goodbye in 2019.”

According to Lopez, he’s already done physical testing, and he’s set to do medicals today. We know from Pulido’s own social media accounts that he’s been in Mexico, but that’s not uncommon for players to train elsewhere during the offseason.

While the KC Soccer Journal has not yet been able to confirm this report, if it’s true it’s massive.

Update 8:19 PM: Now there is a rumored fee, $1.5 million from a third source, Fernando Esquivel. 

🚨🐐 CONFIRMADO. Chivas se refuerza con Alan Pulido.

->Transferencia definitiva por 1.5MDD
->Acuerdo verbal para firma por 1 año con op. a 1 más, automática por cumplimiento de objetivos
->A espera del pase desde KC

DETALLES. @365scoresMX https://t.co/JP7kDcSMLi

— Fernando Esquivel (@fer_esquivel22) January 7, 2025

What it Would Mean for Sporting KC

If Alan Pulido leaves Kansas City, it opens up a lot of possibilities.

First, it would clear his nearly $3.9 million salary off the books and open a Designated Player spot. For a team that has hinted in the past they are looking at the two DPs, four U-22 Initiative MLS roster model, that would basically give the team a clean slate to make at least two big signings.

They would also have two open U-22 initiative spots (for someone like the Geronimo Rivera rumor) and $2 million in additional General Allocation Money (GAM) to add to the roster elsewhere. Of course, much of that $2m may be just to buy down Nemanja Radoja and/or Daniel Salloi who currently fill DP spots, but they are DPs in name only. They are really Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) signings.

The question is, why would Pulido want to leave for Mexico with two years guaranteed left on his Sporting KC deal? Well, you’d think either Chivas is picking up the bill, which they said when he re-signed with SKC back in 2023 their offer didn’t match KC’s offer. Or perhaps, SKC are using their buyout as a part of the move, letting Chivas cover a portion they are comfortable with and KC getting the rest to open up this massive flexibility. Also, you can’t rule out that Chivas’ pull to have Mexican internationals on their team could be driving this too. Fans and the front office almost certainly have fond memories of his fantastic 2019 season before he came to Kansas City.

Pulido is coming off a down year after a career year in 2023. In MLS, your most expensive players have to perform and it’s arguable that Pulido was a liability being on the field last year. If new Sporting Director Mike Burns can orchestrate an exit that opens up his DP spot, he’ll be off to a great start. Then he’ll just need to actually start signing some players.

Ultimately, we’d all be wise to stick to the “I’ll believe it when I see it” mantra. We’ve heard these rumors before. Hopefully this time, they are actually true.

Stay with the KC Soccer Journal for the latest on the Pulido rumors and everything else KC soccer related.