Who Should Sporting KC Target to Sign at Right Back?

SKC Transfers – Part One

Sporting Kansas City currently sit 13th in the Western Conference, and if they want to turn things around and make a playoff push, roster changes are a must. A smart way to do that—without breaking the bank—is signing players who are out of contract. While the KC Soccer Journal has already outlined positional needs, this piece focuses on one of them in depth: right back. Who might SKC realistically target to strengthen this spot?

Positional Needs: A Quick Recap

Sporting KC need help at right back and in central midfield. Khiry Shelton has been solid but unspectacular at right back, and Andrew Brody has struggled. Given SKC’s style—attacking down the flanks with overlapping fullbacks—they need someone who can contribute to both defense and the attack.

The midfield, meanwhile, hasn’t been much better. According to Fbref, Sporting KC rank 25th out of 30 MLS teams in tackles and 27th in failed challenges. On top of that, Fotmob shows they’ve allowed the most expected goals (xG) in the league and are tied for the most penalties conceded. The takeaway? Sporting aren’t winning enough defensive duels, especially in the middle of the field.

While this two-part series will eventually address midfield, Part One focuses solely on right back—and a possible free agent solution.

How I Picked This Player

To find potential right back targets, I searched Transfermarkt—a global database of player transfers and contracts—for free agents aged 20–30. This range ensures SKC gets someone with experience who’s still in their prime. From there, I reviewed stats and video to evaluate fit with Sporting’s play style.

Based on that research, one name stood out: Hamdi Akujobi.

Player Spotlight: Hamdi Akujobi

Position: Right Back | Age: 25 | Height: 5’9″

Akujobi brings an impressive combination of speed, strength, and defensive skill. Last season, he logged over 2,300 minutes for Almere City in the Eredivisie—the top division in the Netherlands. Despite playing on a struggling team, he tied for the team lead in goal-creating actions (4), led in defensive third tackles, and had a team-best 64% tackle success rate.

He also held his own in duels:

• Total duels won: 59%

• Ground duels won: 58%

• Aerial duels won: 61%
  (Source: Sofascore)

These numbers suggest a right back who can defend one-on-one, win challenges, and bring stability to SKC’s backline.

What About Offense?

Watching his tape, Akujobi looks like a blend of Kayden Pierre and Logan Ndenbe—he’s direct, athletic, and prefers to carry the ball rather than rely on passing. Per Fbref last season, he ranked third on his team in both progressive carries (50) and progressive passes (89), and notably, all of his carries advanced into the final third. That’s a sign of purpose and attacking intent—something SKC desperately needs on the right side.

That said, his passing numbers are less impressive:

• Pass accuracy in middle third: 71%

• Long-ball accuracy: 41%

• Switches of play: 4 all season

But context matters: Almere City finished last in possession, so his options on the ball were likely limited. In a more possession-oriented team like Sporting KC, these numbers may improve.

Salary Considerations

Now to the financial side. According to Capology, Akujobi earned just $139,194 last season and around $400,000 over his entire career. For comparison, Logan Ndenbe currently makes $530,000 a year with Sporting. That makes Akujobi a potentially low-cost, high-upside signing—exactly what SKC needs right now.

Final Thoughts

Hamdi Akujobi checks a lot of boxes: he’s young, athletic, defensively reliable, and could thrive in Sporting KC’s system. His wage demands are affordable, and his upside is clear. Plus, Sporting KC just acquired an international roster spot today, bringing their total available spots to three.

So, what do you think? Should Sporting KC take a shot at signing Akujobi, or is there a better option out there? Let us know in the comments below.