Sporting KC
Official: Sporting KC Trade for Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland from Austin FC
Sporting Kansas City have acquired Stefan Cleveland from Austin FC in exchange for $50,000 GAM according to MLS insider Tom Bogert.
Updated 12/10/2025 @ 9:10AM: Sporting KC have made this move official. Cleveland has signed a new two-year deal with SKC through 2027. Under his previous contract, he was making $274,167 in guaranteed compensation, literally under $1,000 more than John Pulskamp.Â
This story was originally published on December 8th.Â
According to The Athletic’s Tom Bogert, Sporting Kansas City has acquired goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland from Austin FC. In exchange, Austin FC will receive $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM). Cleveland has signed a new Major League Soccer (MLS) contract with Sporting KC per the rumor.Â
The acquisition marks the club’s first move of the winter transfer window to add from outside the organization, bolstering the goalkeeper corps following the retirement of veteran Tim Melia in April 2025.
Cleaveland’s BackgroundÂ
Cleveland, 31, joins Sporting Kansas City after a stint with Austin FC. Prior to that, he spent four seasons (2020-2023) with Seattle Sounders FC, where he served primarily as the backup to Stefan Frei.
Cleveland brings MLS experience to Kansas City. During the 2021 season, he made 15 starts for Seattle, posting a 1.13 Goals Against Average (GAA) and recording three clean sheets, playing a pivotal role in the Sounders’ Western Conference campaign. Cleveland played collegiately at Dartmouth College, where he was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year, before transferring to the University of Louisville.
Rumored Transaction DetailsÂ
Transaction: Sporting Kansas City acquires Stefan Cleveland from Austin FC.Â
Cost:Â $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM).Â
Roster Status:Â Cleveland will occupy a domestic roster spot.Â
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Really, this is worth $50k? Surely they didn’t buy him to start? I wonder how far backwards we can go?
50k is nothing though. 50k is MLS for a case of beer. This guy doesn’t cost money and doesn’t take an international spot and is signed as competition for Pulskamp rather then as a direct starter.
The main problem with him is that they haven’t signed anyone else.
The last time I checked, we had goalkeepers out the Ying Yang. We have our number one, and probably a number two and three. I understand your concept about $50,000 being a case of beer, but $50,000 is still $50,000, additionally his wage is going to be more than $50,000. I don’t understand what sporting Kansas City is up to. It’s like we have a perfectly good cauldron, so the club goes out and buys a new cauldron.
Not that it matters much for a GK, but I believe his age is 31.
Thanks, I will update that.