Sporting KC Acquires New Defender

Sporting Kansas City has acquired Montreal Impact veteran Josh Gardner, whom Sporting KC gave a trial to in 2010.

Gardner is a 30 year old defender/midfielder who has played for Montreal, Los Angeles and Columbus, plus some lower level teams. He was drafted by Los Angeles in 2004, where he played for three years before signing on to the Seattle Sounders USL team in 2007.

He returned to the MLS in 2011 with Columbus, but was left exposed in the expansion draft, where he was picked up by Montreal.

His rights were traded to Sporting Kansas City for Sporting's highest pick in the second round of the MLS Superdraft, which takes place in January. Sporting had originally acquired the pick in a trade with New York Red Bulls in August.

Gardner adds some left side depth that was left exposed when Michael Harrington was traded to Portland for allocation money.