Sporting KC announce roster moves – Espinoza and Zusi among the cuts

Sporting Kansas City announced roster moves for both the first team and Sporting KC II in preparation for the 2024 seasons. After today there are 24 players on Sporting KC’s roster. SKC exercised contract options for eight players: Stephen Afrifa, Willy Agada, Robert Castellanos, Jake Davis, Danny Flores, Chris Rindov, Johnny Russell and Remi Walter.

Three players are out of contract: Cam Duke, Gadi Kinda, and Kendall McIntosh. Sporting KC has extended a bona fide offer to Kinda.

SKC declined contract options for Roger Espinoza, Kortne Ford, Felipe Gutierrez, and Graham Zusi. Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes stated that they are having discussions with Ford with a possibility that he could be back. While not a surprise that veterans Espinoza and Zusi will not be back, the fact that SKC declined their options made it final. Both Espinoza and Zusi are two of the most accomplished players in Sporting history and almost guaranteed locks to be Sporting legends in the near future. They are the last two to be Kansas City Wizards.

With today’s announcement, Sporting KC has 24 players under contract for the 2024 season:

Goalkeepers (2): Tim Melia, John Pulskamp

Defenders (9): Jake Davis, Robert Castellanos, Andreu Fontas, Tim Leibold, Logan Ndenbe, Kayden Pierre, Chris Rindov, Dany Rosero, Robert Voloder

Midfielders (6): Ozzie Cisneros, Danny Flores, Felipe Hernandez, Nemanja Radoja, Erik Thommy, Remi Walter

Forwards (7): Stephen Afrifa, Willy Agada, Alan Pulido, Johnny Russell, Daniel Salloi, Khiry Shelton, Marinos Tzionis

MLS Offseason Roster Mechanisms Schedule

• Monday, Dec. 11: Trade Window opens (8 a.m. CT)
• Tuesday, Dec. 12: End-of-Year Waivers (4 p.m. CT)
• Wednesday, Dec. 13: Free Agency begins (12 p.m. CT)
• Thursday, Dec. 14: Re-Entry Draft Stage 1 (12 p.m. CT)
• Tuesday, Dec. 19: MLS SuperDraft 2024 presented by Adidas (2 p.m. CT)
• Thursday, Dec. 21: Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 (12 p.m. CT)

Sporting Kansas City II Roster moves

Sporting KC II has also announced offseason roster moves in preparation for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.

SKC II has exercised the contract option for Sebastian Cruz and declined contract options for Vitor Dias, Enzo Mauriz and Lucas Rosa.

There are six players are out of contract with the club—Bakary Bagayoko, Ethan Bandre, Josh Coan, Michael Lenis, Nassim Mekideche and Jahon Rad. The loans for Andrew Draper and Alenis Vargas have ended. The club is currently in discussions to retain Mekideche and Vargas.

Four players are currently under MLS NEXT Pro contracts with Sporting KC II for the 2024 season:

Defenders (1):  Coby Jones

Midfielders (2): Sebastian Cruz and Ethan Bryant

Forwards (1): Pau Vidal