Sporting Kansas City has announced the resigning of veteran midfielder Roger Espinoza, who had been without a contract for the 2021 season.
The 34-year old has spent every one of his Major League Soccer seasons in Kansas City, with a run from 2008-2012, before returning in 2015 after a stint with Wigan Athletic in an overseas league. With 254 appearances, he is third all-time in Sporting history.
Espinoza’s return adds him to a promising mix of depth for the club, a group that includes Ilie Sanchez, Gadi Kinda, and Gianluca Busio. Sporting, last month, announced continued attempts to sign Felipe Gutierrez to a contract. Those results remain unsuccessful.
After announcing in December that Matt Besler would not return to Sporting, Austin FC announced, on Friday, January 8th, the acquisition of Besler, adding a defender with nearly 300 matches of experience in KC. Playing time had decreased significantly in the 2020 season for Besler, with nine starts and appearances in just 10 games for a squad that earned the #1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
In a club release, Austin FC sporting director Claudio Reyna said, “We are pleased to add a proven defender to the squad that fits the profile we are looking for in a player. Matt’s unique blend of leadership and competitive experience is a valuable combination of strengths, and we are excited to have him continue his career in Austin.”
Besler was part of the 2014 U.S. World Cup team that participated in the tournament across Brazil. He was also part of CONCACAF Gold Cup-winning teams in 2013 and 2017.
