Football free agents Sporting Kansas City could (should) target

The MLS winter transfer window does not close until March 26, which means there are still several weeks left for Sporting Kansas City to add players for the first half of the 2026 campaign. For a team whose lack of depth has already been noted by anyone who has watched the opening matches of the season, the next few weeks could prove important.

Sporting’s thin squad has already shown itself in the early stages of the 2026 season. Injuries, rotation, and form fluctuations are all part of a normal MLS campaign, yet those factors become significantly more damaging when a roster lacks quality options beyond the starting XI. Even the starting XI lacks quality. That is a problem Sporting Kansas City appears to be dealing with.

Sporting director David Lee has been working to bring new players into the club. However, as with every transfer window in world football, agreeing on transfer fees, salaries, and the many logistical complications involved in signing a player is rarely straightforward. Even clubs with deeper pockets regularly struggle to complete deals. MLS teams operating under a salary cap and complex roster rules face even more constraints.

Lee has nevertheless completed a couple of pieces of business. Midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen arrived from Malmo to strengthen the center of the pitch, while center-back Or Blorian will join in the summer after agreeing to a pre-contract that allows him to move on a free transfer when his current deal expires.

Those signings help, but they do not necessarily expand the squad in the way Sporting Kansas City supporters might hope. In reality, Johnsen and Blorian largely replace players who left at the end of the 2025 campaign. The club released several members of the roster last winter, which created gaps that still need to be addressed. Filling holes is useful, but it is not the same as building depth.

That reality may push Lee toward a familiar strategy: the free-agent market. The sporting director already dipped into that pool ahead of the 2026 season, signing Calvin Harris, Ethan Bartlow, Wyatt Meyer, and Jayden Reid after they entered free agency. The approach makes sense in MLS, where avoiding transfer fees can provide flexibility within the league’s strict salary budget.

With that in mind, I took a look at Transfermarkt’s current list of free agents to see which players might realistically fit Sporting Kansas City’s needs. The list includes some big global names—Philippe Coutinho and Paco Alcacer among them—but those players exist in a financial universe far removed from the realities of most MLS rosters. In addition, neither would fit into Sporting’s style.

Digging deeper into the list reveals several players who might actually make sense for Sporting Kansas City. None of these names are rumored targets, and there is no evidence the club is pursuing them. Still, each player offers an interesting hypothetical fit for a roster that clearly needs reinforcements.

Amine Bassi — Attacking midfielder

According to the latest reports, Amine Bassi remains a free agent after leaving the Houston Dynamo. At 28 years old, Bassi is still in his prime and could provide an attacking spark for a Sporting Kansas City side that has struggled for consistent creativity.

Bassi primarily operates as an attacking midfielder but can also play as a central striker if needed. That positional flexibility could appeal to head coach Raphael Wicky, particularly if he chooses to revisit the more aggressive 4-4-2 system he used in preseason. In that structure, Bassi could function either as a second striker or as a central playmaker sitting just behind Dejan Joveljic.

His best MLS season came in 2023, when he scored 10 goals in 28 league appearances for Houston. That output made him one of the Dynamo’s most productive attacking players and helped the team maintain a competitive offensive record throughout the season. His numbers dipped afterward, however. In 2025, Bassi recorded just two goals and three assists across 29 appearances as Houston endured a disappointing campaign that ended outside the playoff places.

Financially, he would not necessarily break Sporting Kansas City’s salary structure. Bassi earned roughly $700,000 during the 2025 season. For an experienced MLS attacker entering his prime years, that salary sits within a range that many clubs could justify, particularly if the deal were short-term.

Marcelino Carreazo — Defensive midfielder

Sporting Kansas City’s signing of Lasse Berg Johnsen addresses the club’s immediate need for a defensive midfielder, yet depth in central midfield remains thin. Injuries or suspensions could quickly expose that weakness.

Marcelino Carreazo could provide a solution. The Colombian midfielder developed in the academy at Once Caldas and went on to make 140 appearances for the club. During that time, he scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, impressive attacking numbers for a player whose primary role sits deeper in midfield.

Carreazo later moved to Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, where he accumulated 97 appearances while recording 11 goals and 10 assists. Those numbers suggest a midfielder capable of contributing in both defensive and transitional phases of play.

Most recently, Carreazo played for Apollon Limassol in Cyprus before leaving the club in early January. At 26 years old, he remains well within his prime playing years and could provide the kind of energetic midfield depth that teams often lack over the course of a long MLS season.

Whether Sporting Kansas City would pursue a player arriving from the Cypriot league is another question entirely, but the statistical profile suggests he could fill a useful squad role.

Diego Fagundez — Left winger

Few MLS players have a longer resume than Diego Fagundez. The Uruguay-born midfielder has spent his entire professional career in the league after developing in the New England Revolution academy system.

Fagundez made his first-team debut for New England in 2011 and eventually accumulated 278 appearances for the club, scoring 54 goals and providing 42 assists. Those numbers represent more than a decade of steady attacking production in MLS, which is no small accomplishment in a league that often sees high roster turnover.

After leaving the Revolution, Fagundez continued his career with Austin FC and later the LA Galaxy, surpassing 90 appearances for both clubs. During his time in Los Angeles, he contributed to the Galaxy’s 2024 MLS Cup victory, adding another significant achievement to an already lengthy career.

The 2025 season, however, was less impressive. Playing for a struggling Galaxy side, Fagundez recorded six goals and two assists. Those numbers are respectable but not exceptional, particularly for a player earning a salary of approximately $1.25 million.

That salary figure may explain why he remains a free agent. For many MLS clubs, paying more than a million dollars for a veteran winger requires justification. If Sporting Kansas City could negotiate a more team-friendly contract, though, Fagundez’s experience and production might still offer value.

At the very least, he would bring more than 400 MLS appearances worth of experience to a squad short on veteran attacking options. Sporting are trying to get younger, but right now, they are the joint youngest team in MLS.

Eryk Williamson — Central midfielder

Eryk Williamson is another player whose career once appeared destined for greater heights. The midfielder spent the 2025 season with Charlotte FC, making 24 appearances in a central midfield role.

Williamson originally emerged as a promising young player with the Portland Timbers after making his professional debut in 2018. Over seven seasons in Portland, he developed into a regular starter and an important piece of the Timbers’ midfield rotation.

His performances were strong enough to earn a call-up to the United States national team, and he was part of the squad that won the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. At the time, many observers expected Williamson to continue progressing toward becoming one of the league’s better midfielders.

That trajectory never fully materialized. His development slowed, and by 2025, he had moved to Charlotte FC in search of a fresh start.

Even so, Williamson remains a solid free-agent option. At 28 years old, he still has the physical attributes to operate as either a No. 6 or a No. 8 in midfield. Players with his level of MLS experience and positional versatility often find new opportunities quickly, particularly when they remain within their prime years.

Financially, he earned approximately $775,000 during the 2025 season with Charlotte. That salary sits within the range that many MLS clubs may consider manageable for a starting-caliber midfielder. For Sporting Kansas City, Williamson could provide competition and depth in central midfield.

Jaylin Lindsey — Full-back

For longtime Sporting Kansas City supporters, Jaylin Lindsey would represent a familiar face. The full-back graduated from the club’s academy and made 41 first-team appearances between 2017 and 2021.

In 2022, Sporting Kansas City transferred Lindsey to Charlotte in exchange for general allocation money. During his time with Charlotte, Lindsey made 63 appearances while contributing one goal and four assists.

Charlotte released him at the end of the 2024 season, after which he signed with USL Championship side New Mexico United. Lindsey played 37 matches during the 2025 campaign, scoring two goals and adding two assists from the full-back position. 

Despite that solid season, Lindsey appears to be without a club in 2026. That situation could present an opportunity for Sporting Kansas City. The team currently lacks reliable depth at right-back, and Lindsey has extensive experience in that role. In total, he has played 108 professional matches at right-back while also occasionally filling in on the left side.

At just 25 years old, Lindsey remains younger than many players already established in MLS. His previous familiarity with the club’s environment could also ease the transition if he were to return.

From a financial perspective, Lindsey might represent a bargain option. In his final season with Charlotte, he earned approximately $275,000. Earlier in his career with Sporting Kansas City, he earned less than $92,000 annually, a reminder that MLS salaries can fluctuate significantly depending on contract status. For a team seeking inexpensive depth at full-back, a short-term deal for Lindsey would at least be worth considering.

A Market Worth Monitoring

Free-agent signings rarely generate the same excitement as blockbuster transfers. They often involve players seeking a fresh start, clubs trying to fill specific roster gaps, or front offices attempting to navigate salary cap limitations without spending transfer fees.

Sporting Kansas City’s front office may already have other targets in mind, and it is entirely possible that none of the players mentioned here ever come close to signing with the club or any other MLS club. Speculation is easy.

However, with the transfer window remaining open until March 26, the free-agent market remains one of the few avenues available for strengthening the roster quickly even after the window closes. If Sporting Kansas City wants additional depth before the season truly gathers momentum, it may be a market worth exploring.