David Lee Outlines Sporting KC’s Next Moves: #10 DP Search, Andre Luiz Arrival, and Manu Garcia Exit

On Sunday, the KC Soccer Journal was told Sporting Kansas City’s President of Soccer Operations, David Lee, wouldn’t be available in a response to the news the team had conversations with Manu Garcia about his future. That is, unless a roster announcement was coming. On Monday, before Manu Garcia’s contract was mutually terminated, we got word we’d be talking to Lee.

That gave us a hint that the Andre Luiz signing was about to be made official. But it would give the media a chance to ask about a multitude of topics, including Garcia, the rest of the transfer window (which closes September 2nd) and a whole lot more.

Despite it only lasting 17 minutes, we learned a ton. Let’s get into it.

Sporting KC are Looking to Sign a #10 DP this Window

On Monday’s edition of Soccerwise, MLS insider, Tom Bogert, said he was surprised Garcia was being sold to Aris in Greece because, “there was a fear or at least a likelihood they were going to have to buy him out.” Obviously, that night a buyout came. But the reason he thought that was because he had heard the plan all along was to sign two Designated Players this summer.

Lee confirmed those plans on Tuesday.

“We will be in the market for a #10, hopefully in this window,” started David Lee. He continued, “we want someone that’s impactful around the goal.”

The issue is, they didn’t really see Manu Garcia as a #10, an attacking midfielder. By moving on from Manu they can sign a player that better fits the way they want to play. Someone who can press to create defense from the front. Look no further than Nico Fernández Mercau, who Lee signed with New York City FC. He’s lit the league on fire and would fit nicely next to Dejan Joveljic in this system. 

“The reality is that there are not that many MLS teams that are paying transfer fees similar to the amount that we have said that we have done and that we’ve said that we will do,” said Lee. “And so, I think that puts us in the market for hopefully the most impactful players that we can find to come in, particularly in those DP areas.”

Incoming and Outgoing Moves

Beyond an attacking midfielder, Lee said they are looking at other positions.

“We would like probably another attacker as well, maybe a versatile one that can play both wide or inside,” began Lee. “And then we also have to be ready to adapt, you know, like we’ve got interest in a whole bunch of our players and while, you know, we don’t anticipate right now that that will happen, but we don’t know.”

“And so, you know, my job is to be ready and to try and be prepared to react in case something like that happens. And so, yeah, right now when you look at the roster, we know we’d like to add another attacking midfielder for sure, but we’ve got to be prepared for anything that might materialize in these last couple of weeks.”

Beyond mentioning two attacking players, there aren’t many other specifics. Lots of folks want the team to add a right back, but Jake Davis seems to have claimed that spot and Justin Reynolds returned to action with SKC II over the weekend and played well.

With struggles at goalkeeper, some fans have cried out to add another keeper, but with four already on the roster, that never felt likely.

Beyond the lack of goals, the next obvious glaring area for me is the midfield. Lasse Berg Johnsen has struggled but showed improvement when Zorhan Bassong returned to health and was partnered with him. But beyond that, it’s Davis, who has been needed at right back, or a bunch of inexperienced young players. Adding a true, box-to-box destroyer would be nice.

Lee also talked about how they have to find a “mix of domestic and ideally international players.” And that they have one open international spot. It’s unclear where that spot comes from, since Garcia doesn’t free up a spot and Luiz occupied their last open spot. Perhaps a green card came through.

Also note, he said “players,” as in more than one. The original idea of four to seven signings from before the summer window would be met with a single signing getting the team to four. But that was before Manu departed, so adding at least two more players seems like a must.

A New Transfer Window Setup

Speaking of signing players, one thing to watch is the window closes in most of Europe before it closes in MLS this year. Guys who were hoping for bigger opportunities may settle for coming to MLS versus not being on a roster. That means, free transfers, but of a higher quality than for the last 30 years of MLS because it’s not guys who have been out of contract for half a season and latch on in the winter.

The KC Star’s PJ Green asked a question of what these next couple weeks will be like and Lee had some fascinating insight. The talent identification is almost done; it’s almost all negotiations as the dominoes fall.

“I would say we are, if you look at probably a percentage, we’re probably 80, 85% in negotiation or conversation phase rather than talent ID,” started Lee.

“We’ve known the positions that we would like for a very long time. So, we’ve done a huge amount of work on the talent ID portion. I think what you find in these last two weeks, particularly with the fee that we’ve paid for Andre Luiz and the potential to pay a fee similar to that or more for other players, all of those players have opportunities in Europe.”

“Sometimes you’re waiting for dominoes to fall, and they might be waiting for an opportunity at Champions League club and maybe that doesn’t materialize. And then all of a sudden, we might be option number two or three for them, which is perfectly okay when you consider the other teams that they’re looking at. And so, you have to be ready to react to availability in the market.”

Building Out a Staff

No one, not even David Lee, is happy with the pace of rebuilding the roster or the front office. After Peter Vermes departed at the beginning of 2025, we knew it would be a long and painful unwinding process. Nearly 11 months into Lee’s tenure, it sounds like the front office is finally coming together.

“We’ve made some, to be honest, some really, really impactful and what we perceive as really impressive hires to lead some of our departments at the club, scouting, analytics, performance in a number of areas,” said Lee.

“I think I mentioned in my last presser that trying to balance the short-term improving the team, but also the medium long-term and making sure we have a staff and a system set up behind the scenes to be able to consistently make the correct decisions. And again, commitment from ownership to go and invest in staff has been unbelievable. And I’m really excited for those people to get here and start helping.”

What Andre Luiz Brings

Sporting KC just paid a rumored $18 million for Andre Luiz. What are they getting?

“The first thing that I think everybody will see is his athleticism,” began Lee. “He’s six foot two, which is very unusual for a winger to be that size. He has electric pace. He runs in behind consistently.”

“I think what we saw in Portugal was he really was able to add productivity and end product in seven goals, six assists. I think in the first half of season, two penalties, one he made sure to tell me that as well. They didn’t count as assists.”

“So, I think we see a player that ultimately can make an impact around the goal. Now we have a lot of work to do to make sure that we can get the most out of him. But I think he’s a player that will impact our game with his physicality, with his ability to run in behind, with his quality on the ball and his 1v1 ability.”

Manu Garcia’s Departure

Fans are still reeling from Monday night’s surprise announcement that the club mutually parted ways with Manu Garcia, less than 24 hours after it looked like they were going to sell him.

“I do want to thank Manu, like he’s been a wonderful professional throughout this process. I think he’s given a huge amount in his 18 months to sporting Kansas City,” stated Lee.

On the business side, it was an opportunity.

“It’s the first transfer window under new majority ownership with Peter Malouk, and we sat down as we entered into the window and wanted to discuss absolutely everything about how we make the team as competitive, sustainably competitive as we possibly can, with nothing off the table,” said Lee.

“Peter was open to that conversation. And so there needed to be a discussion with Manu to see if there was a mutual situation that could benefit everybody. And so, we worked with Manu. You’ll see, I don’t think it’s announced, but he’s going to go to another club. And so, we found a situation that worked. And again, commitment from ownership to exercise a buyout that allows us to open another DP slot.”

Lee went on to discuss how it opened up a Designated Player slot that they otherwise wouldn’t have had. And while he wished Manu well, and wants to add a #10, as outlined above, the new signing will be a better fit for how they want to play.

It seems a roundabout way of saying Manu was a bad fit for the system, and the player and the team will be better from Sporting KC moving on.

Full Press Conference

There was more and the entire presser is worth a watch. The first 17 minutes are Lee, before Rapha Wicky and Jake Davis take the stage. If nothing, watch this touching moment from Davis as he reflects on his limited time with Garcia.

The KC Soccer Journal will have our eyes on the transfer rumors for the next two weeks. Lots of work to do!