Sporting Kansas City Sign André Luiz in Club-Record Transfer
The five-year Designated Player contract marks a major spending increase for Sporting KC and requires a visa and international transfer certificate before Luiz can be registered to play.
Overview
- Sporting Kansas City announced Tuesday that it has signed 24-year-old Brazilian winger André Luiz from Olympiacos to a five-year Designated Player contract.
- The club called the deal a club-record transfer and some outlets reported the fee at about $18 million plus add-ons, far above Sporting KC’s prior record of roughly $7.5 million.
- Sporting KC said Luiz will occupy a Designated Player and an international roster slot, but the signing is pending receipt of his U.S. visa and an international transfer certificate.
- Luiz arrives after a breakout spell in Portugal with Rio Ave, where he had seven goals and six assists, and a January move to Olympiacos that included Champions League play.
- The signing is part of a wider rebuild under principal owner Peter Mallouk and first-year coach Raphael Wicky, and it raises expectations for immediate offensive help as the club looks to climb the Western Conference table.