Former Players
Kayden Pierre transfer to Genk complete
“I just needed a fresh start” – Pierre
Sporting Kansas City has completed the transfer of Homegrown defender Kayden Pierre to KRC Genk in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League for an undisclosed transfer fee. Sporting KC will also receive a sell-on fee for any future transfer of Pierre from Genk. Pierre is joining a club that is normally near the top of the table in the Belgian league.
When Pierre was asked about the move, he answered candidly. “To be honest, I think obviously it’s a good league. It’s a good team and I think I just needed a fresh start. I’ve been here for four years, seven including the Academy. I think I just needed a fresh start. Obviously, if there were no injuries and other things like that, but it was mostly a fresh start. A new city, new everything, I think that will kickstart my career again.”
Pierre joined Sporting KC’s Academy in 2018, and represented Sporting KC at the U-15, U-17 and U-19 levels. He was signed to a Homegrown Player contract in May of 2021.
The Michigan native has 76 professional appearances in all competitions split between Sporting KC and Sporting KC II. Pierre primarily played as a right back for Sporting Kansas City. He was noted for his speed, getting into the attack, and his ability to quickly recover while making excellent tackles.
Pierre was seen as the heir apparent to Sporting KC and U.S. star Graham Zusi at right back. A quick rise through the Academy, the second team and promising appearances for the first team gave hope that Pierre would quickly be a regular starter. Getting looks with the senior national team did not seem out of the realm of possibility.
With twenty-eight appearances for the second team in 2021 and nineteen for the first team in 2022, it looked like Pierre’s path was destined. Then injuries took their toll, hamstrings limited him to just five games in 2023 and eleven so far in 2024 across all competitions.
With Pierre injured and Zusi missing time last season and then not returning for 2024, Sporting KC moved players to the right back spot out of necessity. Fellow Homegrown midfielder Jake Davis and winger Khiry Shelton both spent time at right back. Neither player was perfect but both showed they could do the job when needed and possessed some the ability to cover that role.
Benefiting Club and Player
While the fee was undisclosed by Sporting KC, it is listed as €1,000,000 on transfermarkt which is usually reasonably accurate. That would be a little over a million U.S. dollars.
While Sporting KC would probably rather have a healthy Pierre in that spot, the move makes sense on both sides. Sporting KC will receive some amount of cash to help with a much needed rebuild and Pierre can have his fresh start.
Regret and favorite memory
Perhaps regret is not the right word to describe Pierre’s feelings as he talked to reporters late after a match. He knew he was going and had been saying his goodbyes to his teammates. He slowly made his way around the room, taking in his last time in a familiar spot. Maybe regret, maybe disappointed. Perhaps a little sad that everything did not go better for him and the club.
“I wish I really could have gotten on the field more, to help this team. I think I could have really helped out,” Pierre reflected. “I wanted to play for this team, it’s my boyhood club. Obviously that didn’t happen, but I’ll always love this club.”
Pierre talked about his memories of his time in Kansas City. “Some of the best memories of my life are going to be here and will always be here. Making my debut, my first professional team. All these guys, all my friends that I made here, I mean, I’ll never forget the city for that. I had a great seven years here.”
Asked if one memory stands out for him, Pierre easily answered. “It’s cliché, but it was after the Austin game with me and my boy Jake (Davis). Walking to the Cauldron, that would be my favorite moment.”
Kayden Pierre | Credit: Thad Bell
A Genk Connection
Michel Ribeiro was hired by Sporting KC in 2017 to be their Technical Coach. He worked mostly with the Academy but at times he also trained first-term players as well. Ribeiro worked with players like Gianluca Busio, Jaylin Lindsey, Jake Davis and many others, including Kayden Pierre.
The Belgian coach worked with young players to improve their touch. He helped refine their technique, receiving, passing, and their all-around ability on the ball. Ribeiro trained many of Belgium’s biggest stars. Ribeiro came from Genk and returned to Genk when he left Kansas City. It is unknown if Ribeiro helped the move, but it does seem likely that he kept an eye on his former students.
“I think he’s still there (at Genk) and I’m looking forward to seeing him and chatting with him a little bit,” Pierre said.
Pierre praised Ribeiro’s time in Kansas City. “He would work with me, Jake, and a couple of other guys that were signed by then. He was big for our development in the academy.”
There is a good chance that Pierre will spend some time with Jong Genk, their second team. If he does, it will give him a little time to adjust to the new location and club.
It will give him time, and his new start.
KP said goodbye via Instagram.
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They will replace him with some 30 year old washed up right back!!
If you hate the team so much move on. It’s so disheartening to come on here and only see people talking crap. If this is what being a fan is, then what is the frickin’ point?!
Its disappointing that our homegrown players have been unable to make an impact at the first team level ~ first EPB, then Busio, & now Pierre as well as others. Its fair to be critical of SKC’s player personnel management IMO. The track record has been poor in recent years.
Exactly!!
See this feels like a lot of revisionist history to me. EPB didn’t look ready, at all, in 2014 and 2015 when he was getting a few minutes while Ellis, another homegrown, was out there winning defender of the week awards. EPB then spent 2016 out on loan with Porto which was supposed to turn into a sale that fell through. Then in 2017 he was with the youth national team for two separate tournaments and some friendlies in between and he had an injury after the first tournament. When he was here though, despite the fact that he was signing a precontract with City, he played. He didn’t start every game, but he played in most of them.
Busio had a major impact on the first team. He unseated Ilie as the 6 and was the primary reason we got 1st in the West in 2020 and had 1st in the west in sight in 2021.
Finally, Pierre was given every opportunity to be the man at right back, just like Lindsey before him, but he couldn’t stay healthy also like Lindsey before him.
Not to mention Davis, Hernandez, Salloi, Duke, Pulskamp, Barber, Kempin, and Rad. They were all given plenty of opportunities and those of them that did well with them carved out a spot on the team and those that didn’t, didn’t.
Yes, there are a bunch of guys who never got an opportunity, but that’s true of every team with homegrowns.
Pierre was hurt a lot, which cost him chances. Every time Zusi was down, he went down too and didn’t get his chance to break through. It’s a bit of bad luck.
But I’m not sure how this isn’t good business. You sell a player that couldn’t stay healthy for at least $1m + a sell on fee. All that money can be turned into GAM (General Allocation Money) and spent to improve the roster. There are more young guys waiting in the wings that I think will get signed sooner than later from the SKC Academy. I talked about it a bit on the podcast (https://kcsoccerjournal.com/is-the-kayden-pierre-sale-a-step-in-the-right-direction-for-sporting-kc-orlando-city-kc-current/08/25/2024/).
As for Busio. He was a massive success. Very good when he broke through and sold for record money. He’s the most expensive sale in club history and by extension the best Homegrown in club history. Would it be nice for him to be a 10-year MLS starter? Sure, but he didn’t want that. They did right by the player and cashed out at the right time.
Fully agree. KP injuries is what ultimately probably cost him at SKC. It is great to see him be able to move to a place that he can “restart” his career. Go get those mins KP. For someone that was injured quit a bit and seen minimal playing time… I think 1 Mil + sale is a great way to utilize him.
Also, Ive been thinking about the transfer window. It is a successful one IMO. The team was able to move 2 players off the roster and add one player in. I know it may not seem like a big deal but at least they are making moves. It makes me look forward to the winter transfer window.
Now, we just focus on the Open Cup (which is still worth winning IMO) and trying to make our way (albeit long shot) into the playoffs…
Chad, as always, you have great insight into this team and the game. Keep it up!
Busio was a great development success. But in terms of team success? Where’s all the winning that “most expensive sale in history” funded? This is why people rightly criticize club management. I have no problem with selling him on to help him realize his dreams. I do have a problem with team being an embarrassment for years after ownership pocketed that record sale.
Busio didn’t make an impact?!
Pierre was hurt all the time.
LOL, I said nothing about hating the team or the players. The owners and Managers are subpar to say the least!!!!
This roster is not well built. But you’ve yet to produce any facts or actual substance
look dude, I have the right to my opinion. If you don’t like it just move on! It’s pretty simple.
you are absolutely allowed your opinion, but when you share it publicly, you open yourself to responses. If you don’t want the responses, no need to share your opinion.
In response to your original post, while again I share some frustration with the current roster build, of the last 10 signings by the team, radoja is the only one that was 30 at the time of signing, so it seems that your opinion might be misinformed.
I admit I have some frustrations with the roster build, but what I’d really like to challenge the people who keep wanting to be so negative, is to provide some fact based solutions. In Joe’s case, who should skc sign? I don’t expect a name off the world market, but who in mls is the type of player you’d want? how much are they making? Do they require a roster mechanism (u-22, dp, tam salary bought down)?
basically I think you are saying they will sign the equivalent of ben sweat, a low cost journeyman that doesn’t cost much. What I’m asking is who do you want instead?
Because we’ve been signing washed up 30 year old guys? Not re-signing like Pulido. But fresh new signings who are old washed up 30 something’s? Name them.
Busio was a success on the pitch, but made just 65 appearances over 4 seasons for SKC. The most appearances in a single season was 23. He was then sold on as were others. What did SKC get in return for the $$$$? That’s the issue. FWIW, EPB was nowhere close to ready. He was a train wreck in his appearances with the first team.
So it comes down to this — is SKC wanting to be a player development / investment organization looking to sell players on or are they looking to win trophies?