:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58593961/felipe_gutierrez.0.jpg)
Sporting Kansas City announced that they have signed Felipe Gutierrez as a Designated Player. Gutierrez is a native of Quintero, Chile and has played for his country 35 times.
“You can say about a lot of players that have been around for a while that they have tremendous experience but if there is a player that fits into our system, he is one of those guys,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes told reporters. “He is relentless in the way that he goes after the ball, he’s got a great engine, and he’s really street smart on the field, definitely a player that’s going to have an impact in our team.”
When Gutierrez left Chile in 2013, he went to play for FC Twente in Holland before moving to Real Betis in 2016, gaining experience at several spots in the midfield along the way.
According to Gutierrez, the process of coming to SKC began about three months ago when his agent brought up the idea of coming to Sporting Kansas City.
“I played a number of years in Holland at Twente and played the number 6, on the national team I play number 8 and I play the number 10 also,” Gutierrez explained. “I can play in the middle.”
With his versatility, there will be a lot of question about where Vermes starts to slot him in the lineup. Will he challenge Ilie or Roger Espinoza for times? Or supplant newcomer Yohan Croizet in the apparent attacking mid spot?
Here is the roster as it stands today.
Sporting KC’s Roster 2/6/18
| Name | Position | Status | Joined | Contract Expiration | Option Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Status | Joined | Contract Expiration | Option Years |
| Matt Besler | CB | 1/15/2009 | 2018 | None | |
| Graham Zusi | RB | DP | 1/15/2009 | 2018 | None |
| Kevin Ellis | CB | 2/18/2011 | 2018 | None | |
| Seth Sinovic | LB | 11/28/2011 | 2018 | None | |
| Ike Opara | CB | 12/12/2012 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Jimmy Medranda | CM | 8/9/2013 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Tim Melia | GK | 12/23/2014 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Roger Espinoza | CM | DP | 1/6/2015 | 2018 | None |
| Daniel Salloi | LW | INT-HG | 1/13/2016 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 |
| Diego Rubio | CF | 3/8/2016 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Adrian Zendejas | GK | 12/2/2016 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 | |
| Andrew Dykstra | GK | 12/22/2016 | 2018 | None | |
| Gerso Fernandes | RW | DP | 1/4/2017 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Ilie Sanchez | CDM | 1/13/2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Colton Storm | RB | 1/13/2017 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 | |
| Soony Saad | LW | 1/30/2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
| Amer Didic | CB | 5/31/2017 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 | |
| Cristian Lobato | LB | INT | 6/29/2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| James Musa | CDM | INT | 8/11/2017 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 |
| Gianluca Busio | FWD | HG | 8/25/2017 | 2020 | 2021, 2022 |
| Kharlton Belmar | FWD | 9/15/2017 | 2018 | 2019, 2020 | |
| Khiry Shelton | FWD | 12/14/2017 | 2018 | Unknown | |
| Yohan Croizet | CAM | INT-DP | 12/15/2017 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Jaylin Lindsey | RB | HG | 1/1/2018 | 2021 | 2022 |
| Zach Wright | FWD | HG | 1/17/2018 | 2018 | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Emiliano Amor | CB | INT | 1/18/2018 | 2018 | Option to Buy |
| Matt Lewis | CB | HG | 1/22/2018 | 2018 | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
| Johnny Russell | LW | INT | 1/31/2018 | 2020 | 2021 |
| Felipe Gutierrez | CM | INT-DP | 2/6/2018 | 2020 | 2021 |
That’s 29 players, counting Kevin Ellis and Soony Saad who are likely on their way out. 1st round pick Erik Dick is unsigned and some moves may need to be made to avoid four goalkeepers on the roster. Five DPs are still listed until Sporting KC indicate who they are buying down by the roster compliance date.