Sporting KC II Announce Roster Moves; Down to Four Players

Sporting Kansas City have until November 27th to announce their roster moves. So far, it’s still radio silence on that front. However, Sporting KC II announced their moves on Wednesday. The roster decisions have left SKC II with only four players under contract for the 2025 season. Despite that, the team can still loan down first team players and loan up SKC Academy players, that don’t count in these numbers.

SKC II only picked up contract options on two players: forwards Medgy Alexandre and Maouloune Goumballe. Alexandre played on the wing and as a wingback at times this year. Goumballe primarily played winger, but also spent time in a two forward setup as well, with SKC rolled out their 3-5-2.

The team declined 2025 contract options for Demarre Montoute, Jonathan Robinson and Jake Swallen. Left back Robinson was a third-round pick by Sporting KC in last year’s SuperDraft, but never played for the first team, instead signing directly with SKC II. Montoute showed some promise at center back but stopped playing much after a rough performance in the middle of the season. Swallen picked up an injury and didn’t play again after that.

Seven other players are listed in the release as having their contracts expiring: Beto Avila, Ethan Bryant, Sebastian Cruz, Kamron Habibullah, Carson Klein, Pau Vidal and Mason Visconti. Additionally, the loan for Haris Allisah expired.

Though not mentioned in the release, two more players were on the initial roster. Coby Jones retired before the season and Roberto Hategan is also not under contract for 2025.

Of the players out of contract, Sebastian Cruz was given a shout out from SKC II head coach, Benny Feilhaber, as being worthy of a first team contract. There is no word yet on if the first team has decided to sign Cruz or anyone else from the second team.

KC Soccer Journal: “Who do you think has done enough to maybe earn a first team contract?”

Feilhaber: “I mean I think that Seba[astian Cruz] is at the top of the list. He’s been here for two years. He’s trained countless times with the first team. Peter knows him very well. I think he’s shown enough to be given an opportunity.

Other players to keep an eye on are Bryant, Habibullah and if he’s healthy, Vidal.

In addition to all the announced roster moves, SKC II confirmed that former SKC Academy products Nati Clarke and Cielo Tschantret are under contract for 2025.

A Further Look

On the whole, not a lot of surprises in the announcements. It’s very common for players to be on one-year or two-year deals or perhaps one-year deals that include an option year. Last season, Cruz was on a 1+1 deal and was the only player to have his option picked up from that team. It’s also not uncommon for MLS Next Pro (and USL Championship teams for that matter) to significantly turnover their rosters from season to season.

The next big announcement that SKC II need to make is the future of their coaching staff. Feilhaber confirmed to the KC Soccer Journal that he is out of contract at the end of the year. Last season, he interviewed for the Phoenix Rising (USLC) head coaching job before they went another direction. It’s apparent that Sporting KC are sticking with Peter Vermes, at least in the short-term, for the first team coaching job. It becomes a question of if Feilhaber wants to come back and if the team wants him back.

When more news comes about the roster or coaching, we’ll have it for you.