Sporting KC
Sporting KC Add Two Defenders in Meyer and Reid
Sporting Kansas City’s roster climbs up to 20 players as the second phase of preseason is set to start this week.
On Tuesday, Sporting Kansas City announced the signing of two of their three trialists from the 2026 preseason. The team added a pair of 24-year-old MLS veterans in Wyatt Meyer and Jayden Reid. Both deals are guaranteed for a year, with options through the 2027-28 season.
Both players will add to the back line which only had three players on the roster before this announcement. Reid is a left back and Meyer is a left-footed CB who can also play in the midfield.
“We are pleased to welcome Wyatt and Jayden to the first-team roster after performing well in preseason,” President of Soccer Operations & General Manager David Lee said. “Wyatt and Jayden have adapted quickly to the demands of the coaching staff and have integrated seamlessly into the group during preseason while showing a clear commitment to the club. They each enjoyed standout collegiate careers and have already shown their potential in MLS.”
“Wyatt is a left-footed player that can play both center back or in the midfield and his versatility will provide valuable depth and competition. Jayden is an athletic left back with MLS experience that has the characteristics and profile that we are looking for in that position.”
Meyer and Reid may be familiar names to MLS fans as they arrive as free agents from other teams. Meyer was with Nashville SC and Reid played for Sporting KC’s rival, St. Louis City. For more information, check out the KC Soccer Journal article with details on all three trialists.
State of the Sporting KC Roster
The additions of Reid and Meyer bring Sporting KC up to 20 signed players for 2026. Reid is the first signed left back on the entire roster (though Zorhan Bassong has played there at times). Without knowing their salaries, we don’t know how this impacts Sporting KC’s roster compliance, but it at least adds some depth.
Meyer adds a third CB to the roster. As things stood, only Ian James and Jansen Miller were signed, so there is now a tiny bit of depth in central defense.
However, the roster build is far from over. When David Lee last spoke with the media, he promised “double digit” signings. Reid and Wyatt bring the total to three signings since that date. There is still plenty of work to do, and that work will almost certainly stretch past the start of the season on February 21st.
The KC Soccer Journal will provide additional information on any signings, rumors, or movement around Sporting KC.
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Yay, we’re compliant and avoid a fine! Again, no one would be upset with these signings if we had another signing of substance to go along with them. The whole “we need to wait till the summer for a good DP” argument is fine, but where are our TAM level players? Why can’t we find at least one U22? Why couldn’t we have gone for any of the good Free Agent options that actually can contribute? There are more and more questions and it’s starting to get frustrating to get no answers.
A friend and I were speculating on what the hold up could be on some of the domestic transfers/signings. Of course, we don’t have an answer, but it still baffled us that the club doesn’t have more answers to the roster questions.
Is this such a bad set of optics that players don’t want to come? A veteran at the end of their career would probably want one last shot at a title. A rookie would probably want to know what they are getting into. I dunno. It’s all speculative.
But if I had MLS level talent, would I answer the phone call from a club with half a roster and a coach who’s be serving since yesterday?
Technically I’m not even sure they are roster compliant. Almost certainly these guys are on minimum deals too and could be on the Supplemental or Senior roster (they’ll likely need to be on the Senior roster for now).
I expect at least one Homegrown signing still. But they “depth” is built, it’s the starting quality players I’m desperate to see this team sign. Our guess is $8 million in available funds/roster budget space. They could add a lot of good TAM-level guys (and a DP, and U22s, etc. etc.)
Is this what happens before they sell a club? Liquidate the roster and pocket the cash… Ok, I’m wigging out.
I suppose that could be happening. Who knows what was going on in the background leading up to this sale (or if it’s all signed and over the line).
We need to hear from David Lee to know for sure. Not that he’s gonna throw ownership under the bus. Until otherwise, I’m sticking with unprecedented back luck.
Looks like a middle act of a desperate team. The horror, the horror!
Really glad I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid when they announced David Lee. I would be regretting paying for season tickets right now.
“Wyatt and Jayden have adapted quickly to the demands of the coaching staff..”
Well, the coaching staff that was actually able to coach or was hired at the time.
Hey, its depth in areas we desperately needed it. While I like Miller and James, I wasn’t expecting to see that pairing as our starters. From the looks of the roster, Jayden will be getting a lot of minutes at left back.
I hope there is more to come this week. We’re going to need it.