Sporting Sign Vargas to First Team Contract

Sporting Kansas City today announced the club’s second addition to the first team of the offseason. They announced that the club had acquired Alenis Vargas on a transfer from Costa Rican side, Futbol Consultants Desamparados. Vargas has signed a three year contract with the club through 2026 and an option for 2027. He will require an international roster spot on Sporting’s team.

The 20-year-old Vargas had come to Kansas City last year on loan and joined Sporting’s second team in MLS Next Pro with countryman Keny Martinez. Vargas though was the one that impressed the most, scoring six goals and adding five assists over 21 appearances in the 2023 MLSNP season. The Honduran native can play the wing or the center forward position, both of which he had success at last year with SKCII. In August, Vargas scored a hattrick in Sporting’s 6-1 win over Portland Timbers 2. He also scored an impressive volley against the Colorado Rapids 2.

🗣️ ALENIS VARGAS

The forward defies gravity to hit a scissor-kick goal. @SportingKCII pic.twitter.com/8HVIsk2YcS

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) July 30, 2023

It’s a deserved signing for Vargas who looked extremely impressive over his time with SKCII last season. It’s also an impressive find for the Sporting KC scouting department to find someone who has shown the quality of Vargas in the second division on Costa Rica.

Vargas’s signing for Sporting puts the Sporting KC roster at 26 currently. It gives Sporting five wingers with starters Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi and reserves Marinos Tzionis and Khiry Shelton. In terms of center forwards he makes the position look almost crowded with Alan Pulido, Willy Agada, and Stephen Afrifa all returning from the 2023 team.