Sporting KC Sign Bosnian Left Back Emir Karic

Sporting Kansas City are using MLS taking seven weeks off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to bolster their roster. Rumors had David Lee, SKC’s new President of Soccer Operations, looking to add four to seven players during the summer transfer window.

One rumor has moved from speculation to confirmation today.

Sporting KC announced the signing of 29-year-old left back Emir Karic from Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Karic joins on a two-year deal through the 2027-28 season with a club option to extend the deal through the 2028-29 season. He will occupy an international roster spot.

“We are excited to welcome Emir to Sporting Kansas City,” President of Soccer Operations & General Manager David Lee said. “Emir is a very experienced left back at a fantastic age that will be able to make an immediate impact on our roster. With over 300 senior matches in his career, he has gained valuable experience in both the German Bundesliga and European competition. He has good technical traits and excellent physical attributes that will fit into our team and style of play, while he has displayed his winning mentality by helping Sturm Graz win the title and also earned promotion with Darmstadt. We are delighted that Emir really wanted to be a part of the club and we are pleased that he is joining us before we start the second half of the campaign.”

Emir Karic should bring a wealth of experience to the defense. Coming into the 2026 season, only Ethan Bartlow had any extensive professional minutes. With Or Blorian already arriving in Kansas City and Karic set to join the team upon the receipt of his P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate, the defense will suddenly have a lot more experience.

The “fantastic age” comment from Lee may be talking about all that experience. Sporting KC are a very young team. Karic immediately becomes the second oldest player on the team, behind goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland, who turned 32 this season. Manu Garcia has officially been bumped to third at the ripe old age of 28. The 2+1 deal is a low risk move to add experience for a player who will be on “the wrong side” of 30 in less than a year.

Karic should compete with Jayden Reid to start at left back and Blorian likely will slot right in at center back.

It remains to be seen if the team will acquire or free up more international roster spots for further additions, like the rumored offer for $20 million winger Yann Gboho. Technically Karic occupies their last spot, but there are green card rumors on the horizon and plenty of open domestic roster spots.

More on Karic

Sporting KC wrote up an extensive history on Karic’s playing career and we hit a few other details in last week’s rumor story below.

Rumor: Sporting KC to Acquire Left Back Emir Karic

Karic also spoke to SKC fans through social media, describing his game as, “Calm. Tricky. And hopefully, successful.” (It’s also a great way to learn to pronounce his name).

SKC resume play in just over three weeks when they take on rival St. Louis City in a mid-week game. If Karic plays in STL, that will be an interesting dynamic. St. Louis has an extensive Bosnian population and Karic is a member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.