A Way Too Early 2025 Sporting KC Depth Chart

On Saturday, Sporting Kansas City players will report to KC ahead of the first leg of preseason in South Florida. To say there has been some consternation about the roster build (or lack thereof) is an understatement. The team is up to 20 players signed for the 2025 season, with 10 roster spots still open.

The rosters for preseason haven’t been announced yet, but the KC Soccer Journal has been able to confirm at least one player will be on trial. In addition, it’s normal for SKC Academy kids, SKC II players and unsigned draft picks to join the first team in preseason.

I can assure you the roster that will start preseason isn’t the roster that will end preseason. By the time the team heads to the second leg of preseason for the Coachella Valley Invitational, I imagine even more additions will have been made. However, looking at the depth chart is always a good exercise to see where the team is deficient.

With only 20 players on the roster (we won’t include unsigned players on the depth chart), there are certainly going to be places that lack depth and others that definitely don’t have a clear starter. Plus, there are some new players who it’s not entirely clear where Vermes prefers them. Let’s dive in and take a look where the roster stands. We’ll work front to back.

Striker/Center Forward

Starter: William Agada

Depth: Alenis Vargas? Erik Thommy? (False 9), Stephen Afrifa?, Daniel Salloi?

With the surprise sale of Alan Pulido to Chivas earlier in the week, there is clarity at the top of the depth chart, but nothing but questions below. Barring a signing, William Agada is the unquestioned starting striker. He was one of the top players in the league in expected goal (xG) in 2024, even if his finishing wasn’t quite that high. He still led the team in scoring despite having Pulido play out of position at the #10 below him for much of the season.

For now, Agada is the man. As for who backs him up, it seems very likely the team needs to make an addition. We’ve seen a handful of other players on the roster play CF at times. Afrifa was originally sold to us as a center forward when he was drafted two seasons ago, but he transitioned to the wing and looked better there. Vargas played CF at times for SKC II and performed admirably, but in a league two levels below MLS. We know Salloi can play there in a pinch and Thommy even had some time there as a bit of a False 9. This will be something to watch through preseason. Also, it’ll be interesting to see if the team chooses to use their freed up Designated Player spot here.

Left Wing

Starter: Daniel Salloi

Depth: Stephen Afrifa, Erik Thommy

This is a position very much in flux. Salloi’s $1.3 million 2024 salary and Vermes’ general love of him, even when his offensive production doesn’t match his defensive work rate, probably means he’s the favorite. But Afrifa made huge strides last year and outperformed Salloi on a per-minute basis.

I was working on a story and used an FBref chart in it for Daniel Salloi and Stephen Afrifa (coming later today).

Small sample size for Afrifa, as he has less than a third of the minutes of Salloi, but I like the look of his chart. #SportingKC pic.twitter.com/gckmJXUmQz

— Chad Smith (@PlayFor90) September 27, 2024

Erik Thommy is another player whose best position may be wide left. Left wing may be the deepest position on this team.

Right Wing

Starter: Alenis Vargas?

Depth: Stephen Afrifa, Erik Thommy

This position feels very much up for grabs. I put Vargas as the starter, but that’s super shaky. With the departure of Johnny Russell, he’s the only natural right winger on the entire roster. I could definitely see Afrifa getting time here. If the team does sign a #10 (attacking midfielder), Erik Thommy may actually be the favorite to start over here. His style of play fits playing wide more than it does playing centrally anyways. Then again, he’s better on the left than the right.

Midfield

Starters: Jake Davis, Erik Thommy, Nemanja Radoja

Depth: Memo Rodriguez, Zorhan Bassong, Jacob Bartlett

The “starters” need a big caveat. I think, without a doubt, those are the three most talented players currently signed that play in the midfield. Radoja had a down year with injuries, but we’ll address that elsewhere.

This list assumes SKC will play the traditional 4-3-3 they’ve played for years. If that’s the case, it’s Radoja at the d-mid spot (#6), Thommy at the left-sided 8/10 role and Davis at the right-sided #8 (box to box midfielder).

But as we saw, 2024 brought a 4-2-3-1 formation to which Radoja didn’t fit in very well. The “2” is a double pivot with two defensive midfielders. If KC are running the 4-2-3-1, Memo may be a better fit next to Davis as a starter. Then again, maybe it was his injuries holding him back from playing well in a double pivot.

This is another position where a shake up should be coming. If the mythical #10 is signed that may push Thommy to the forward line or down the midfield depth chart. The team could also use additional depth in the midfield in general. More players capable of playing that 6/8 role Davis did so well at when they moved to the 4-2-3-1. If the team wants to use that formation, or just depth in general, would be a plus.

Left Back

Starter: Logan Ndenbe

Backups: Tim Leibold, Zoran Bassong

This is subjective, because I’d say this may be one of the closest position battles on the field. Ndenbe is coming off a bad knee injury and Leibold was the primary starter last year. But if 2023 Ndenbe returns, I think he takes the job as his own. Leibold can be too much of a defensive liability at times and his offensive production hasn’t match pre-Sporting KC levels. Bassong would be emergency only and I suspect primarily in the midfield.

Center Backs

Starters: Joaquin Fernandez, Dany Rosero

Backups: Robert Voloder, Ian James, Jacob Bartlett

I listed Fernandez and Rosero, but it’s highly likely Voloder could be a day one starter. He made strides last year, plus Rosero had surgery at the end of last season. Based on 2024 pay, Fernandez and Rosero are the two highest paid players. That doesn’t mean they are the best, but I suspect PV wants to see what he has.

The drop down to 4th on the depth chart right now are two Homegrown teenagers. I suspect one or both of them may be needed over the course of a season. Plus, the number eight overall draft pick, Jansen Miller, may emerge as fourth depending on his preseason and if he gets signed. I suspect he’ll earn a contract.

Right Back

Starter: Khiry Shelton

Backups: Jake Davis?, Jacob Bartlett, Ian James

Right now, Davis is needed in the midfield and its 100 percent his best spot. There technically isn’t even a right back on the roster, but Shelton handled himself well playing in an entirely new spot. I think he’ll have every opportunity to start. I could see Davis still playing there at times, but I also think we have a chance to see one of the young Homegrowns take a chance at winning the job, or at least the backup job.

Goalkeeper

Starter: John Pulskamp

Backups: Ryan Schewe, Jack Kortkamp

The GK room is very young. Goalkeepers tend to peak later in life and the 23-year-old Pulskamp is the “veteran.” It still feels like the team may sign a veteran and do a season long loan of Kortkamp to SKC II, but this could be the group. Letting Melia walk after the season does show a confidence that Pulskamp can be the man and also shows that the team trusts Schewe to step into a larger role. The 2nd year player may see his first MLS minutes in 2025.

The team still has 10 open roster spots and it’s not uncommon for Vermes to leave a few open for summer additions. Will the team sign the 2-3 Designated Players and 1-2 U-22 Initiative players they are eligible to add? I doubt they fill all the spots. The coming weeks and month will tell us a lot about this team’s ability to bounce back from a miserable 2024.