David Lee Looking to Add Four to Seven Players to Sporting KC

Sporting Kansas City wrapped up the first chunk of the 2026 Major League Soccer season last weekend with a valiant performance against the New York Red Bulls. It was a rare game this season where they looked better than their opponent but didn’t earn a result.

Still, the team heads into the World Cup break in its best form of the year. They won two of their last three games and picked up seven points in the final five games. That means they earned 64 percent of their total points in just 36 percent of their games played. It could be said they were getting into form just in time for there to be a seven-week break.

On the other hand, perhaps the roster head coach Raphael Wicky was dealing with, was over-performing, and the break will allow them to improve.

President of Soccer Operations and General Manager David Lee sounds like he’s going to give Wicky plenty of reinforcements before the season resumes against St. Louis City on July 16.

While Lee hasn’t spoken with the media since before the first home game of the season, multiple season ticket members have confirmed Lee told them singings are coming. At a closed door, STM event, Lee is reported to have said four to seven new “starter-level” players will join the team. More specifically, three defenders, three attackers and a midfielder.

@chadcsmith.bsky.social @fortheglorykc.bsky.social since you mentioned David Lee on the pod, my STM group got to hear from him before the game Saturday. He said his goal is 4-7 “starter-level” player signings this window. 3 defenders, 3 attackers, 1 mid to challenge current players for spots.

— (@ericscheller.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T16:16:04.031Z

Another source confirmed that doesn’t include new Sporting KC center back, Or Blorian, who is set to join on a pre-contract in June after he joins Israel for National Team camp.

What is Lee’s Track Record so far?

There will be plenty of time during the break to debate where Sporting KC need to add those four to seven players. A better question may be, how realistic is it that Lee will actually get this done?

When Lee was the Sporting Director at New York City FC, a common complaint was things not moving as quickly as fans would like. It was unclear if that was because of his overlords at City Football Group, Lee himself, or other outside factors.

If we turn our attention to the eight months that Lee has been at Sporting KC, it’s a small sample size but it may provide an idea of what to expect. Even before Lee moved on from an immense number of players at the end of the season, he was talking improvement over multiple transfer windows.

“I think it is going to come as no surprise,” said Lee. “The roster needs to be improved. The roster needs to get better, and it will get better through the next transfer windows.”

It’s safe to say, the first one didn’t do enough.

At the press conference for new coach Rapha Wicky, Lee said, “There’s going to be double digit number of players being acquired.”

Technically, he missed the mark on that. The team added nine more players after that through today, including Blorian who has yet to officially join.

At media day, after the first game of the season but before the first home game, Lee said, “It’s a little bit difficult to give a number. I would say probably somewhere between three and six is the hope. That’s sort of what we’re aiming at.”

After that date, the team did add three players: Capita Capemba, Diego Borges and the aforementioned Blorian who has yet to officially arrive having just clinched a title in the Israeli Premier League. Technically he hit the bottom of his stated range.

Can SKC Even Add Seven Players?

When Lee gives an estimate, you can see he’s usually close. The four to seven additions do bring up an interesting issue. The team already has 25 players on their roster. MLS allows teams to have 30 players, with a caveat for a 31st player who can go on a season-long loan to a lower division club.

That would allow for six additions without cutting someone. Then again, Sporting KC are loaded with guys on minimum contracts who may be worth buying out if they can find the right players. And players of a higher level of talent.

Then there is the issue with international roster slots. The team officially has one open. There are rumors Zorhan Bassong may be getting a green card freeing up another spot. It’s possible loaning an international player to SKC II for the season could clear another, with Kwaku Agyabeng potentially being a guy that would qualify (though the rules are foggy on this at best). If the team adds another midfielder and a right back, presumably Jake Davis would move back to the midfield, leaving little room for Agyabeng to get minutes with the first time.

Sporting KC do have a lot of General Allocation Money, buying a half-season international spot may be an option too.

Seven additions seems ambitious, but a loan and one player being cut, traded or transferred would leave room for that many moves.

Is this Transfer Window Really Going to be Different?

David Lee’s first transfer window was underwhelming. The vast majority of the players added to the team were at or near the minimum salary. The only players notably above the minimum were Lasse Berg Johnsen ($1.19m), Capita Capemba ($658k), Calvin Harris ($375k) and Stefan Cleveland ($237k).

There is a ton of room to make signings when it comes to the budget, the question is can Lee get deals done. The rumors were that plenty of deals fell through this winter. Lee himself acknowledged the bizarre Cesar Inga saga. Maybe the World Cup spotlight being on Kansas City will change its appeal to outsiders.

One man thinks this window will be different. And it’s a pretty important figure. New majority owner, Peter Mallouk. In response to this very rumor of four to seven signings, Lee said, “July 16. A new beginning.”

In that same thread of comments, he went on to say, “This is the first window [David Lee] has with all he needs.” Before going on to add, “The bar is being re-set. And hopes should be too!”

As is the case in all things, only time will tell. The KC Soccer Journal’s Manager Editor, Thad Bell, asked to speak with Lee again and was told he’ll be available when they have an announcement to make. Hopefully that’s very soon.

The team is currently off for three weeks, but I suspect Lee is continuing to work right through the break.