Sporting KC sends Tyler Freeman on loan to Karlsruher SC in Germany

Sporting Kansas City has loaned Tyler Freeman to Karlsruher SC for the 2021-22 German 2. Bundesliga season. The 18-year-old Homegrown forward can be recalled by Sporting KC.

Freeman is a native of Shawnee, Kansas and came through the SKC Academy before becoming the second youngest player in Sporting KC when he signed an MLS Homegrown at just 15 in 2018. He has scored six goals and one assist in 35 USL Championship appearances for Sporting Kansas City II. Three of those goals and an assist have come this season in just nine appearances.

Karlsruher SC sits undefeated on top of the German 2. Bundesliga table after beating over Hansa Rostock and SV Darmstadt 98 to open the 2020-21 season. Karlsruher SC has spent most of the last two decades in the second division with a couple short drops to the third bouncing back up and had a short two year span in the first division in 2008-09 but did have a long stint in the 1980’s and 90’s in the top level.

“All players are different, there is an opportunity with a couple teams to send him to,” SKC manager Peter Vermes explained when asked about the reason for loaning Freeman abroad. “I think with him never really being out of Kansas City where there are other players that have went through the Pro Player Pathway that moved here and lived here on their own. I think that has been good for a lot of those guys.”

“I think for him, a chance to go live on his own a little bit, be away from everybody and have to manage all that, and still play and try to be successful, see what it’s like somewhere else and having to prove yourself,” continued Vermes. “I think it’s going to be good for his growth as a player. That is something we did with Daniel (Salloi) when he first got here, actually sent him back to Hungary. It was good for him because he came back with a different level of interest. I am hoping that will be the same thing with Tyler.”

Freeman is a versatile attacker, capable of playing across the top and as an attacking midfielder but will probably get a little time with Karlsruher SC U-19’s as he integrates into the first team.