Breaking: Sporting KC adds two attackers

Sporting Kansas City announced the acquisition of 27-year-old Spanish midfielder Manu Garcia and 25-year-old Russian winger Shapi Suleymanov. Both players come from Aris Thessaloniki in Super League Greece.

After a slow offseason, the transfer news quickly picked up recently. Over the weekend Sporting KC announced the addition of high-powered striker Dejan Joveljic. Now Sporting KC adds attacking midfielder Garcia and winger Suleymanov.

Manu Garcia signed a three-year MLS contract through 2027 with a club option for 2028 and will be a Designated Player. Suleymanov signed a two-year MLS contract through 2026 with club options in 2027 and 2028. The standard wait for receipt of their International Transfer Certificates and P1 visas applies in both cases.

Garcia is expected to fill the attacking midfielder role for Sporting KC. The Spanish attacker joins after being a key player for Aris and one of their leader scorers. After time with Astur CF and Sporting Gijon in the youth academies, he moved to Manchester City. After loans to several clubs he was a record transfer to Sporting de Gijón. After another loan to Alavés Garcia made his move to Aris. He had nine goals and six assists in 51 appearances.

Winger Suleymanov started at FC Krasnodar before going to Aris in 2023, first on loan and then transferred in 2024. With Aris, the Russian attacker had six goals and five assists in 33 league appearances.

Rebuild in progress

Joveljic, Garcia, and Suleymanov join previous signings of veteran Mason Toye and HomeGrown players Ian James, Jack Kortkamp and Jacob Bartlett.

Sporting Director Mike Burns was added to the staff in 2024 and has started to make his imprint on the club. First with making hard decision regarding fan favorites at the end of the 2024 season and now these additions and in the future.

Sporting KC Roster as of Feb. 3, 2025

• Goalkeepers (3): Jack Kortkamp, John Pulskamp, Ryan Schewe
• Defenders (7): Joaquin Fernandez, Ian James, Tim Leibold, Logan Ndenbe, Dany Rosero, Khiry Shelton, Robert Voloder
• Midfielders (7): Jacob Bartlett, Zorhan Bassong, Jake Davis, Manu Garcia, Nemanja Radoja, Memo Rodriguez, Erik Thommy
• Forwards (7): Stephen Afrifa, William Agada, Dejan Joveljic, Daniel Salloi, Shapi Suleymanov, Mason Toye, Alenis Vargas

New faces and new names and hope for a better year.

First look at @SportingKC's newest DP, Manu Garcia. 🇪🇸

The Spanish attacking midfielder has played in the top divisions of England, France, Netherlands, Spain and Greece while also representing the Spanish Men’s National Team. pic.twitter.com/ec27FB7NrJ

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 3, 2025