What next for Jansen Miller after Sporting KC’s defensive overhaul?

Sporting KC signed Brazilian defender Diego Borges on Tuesday. The center-back’s signing makes him the sixth center-back on the Sporting KC roster. The team now have Jansen Miller, Ian James, Ethan Bartlow, Wyatt Meyer, Or Blorian, and Borges under contract. Blorian won’t arrive until July, however, after signing a pre-contract with the club. 

The initial thinking is that Blorian and Borges will become head coach Raphael Wicky’s preferred center-back pairing. However, nothing is set in stone. Sporting KC were linked with Borges for some time, revealing that the defender is part of Lee’s long-term thinking, as he builds the squad. 

There is a stark difference between Sporting KC’s defense now and where it was at the start of preseason. Just two months ago, Sporting KC had a mere two center-backs under contract. Those center-backs were Miller and James, two holdovers from last season. 

The arrival of four new center-backs begs the question: What next for Jansen Miller and Ian James? The pair has gone from being the likely first-choice center-backs to falling down the depth chart like a stone in water. 

From regular starter to depth option

Of the two, Miller appears to be the furthest down Wicky’s depth chart. The 6-foot-2 center-back came through the traditional American professional soccer route. He joined Sporting KC through the MLS SuperDraft in 2025 after playing for the Indiana Hoosiers after two years at Xavier University. 

Miller wasn’t an MLS academy product prior to playing collegiately. However, he did play for Saint Louis FC in their amateur academy. Miller played in the USL Two while playing in college. 

The defender signed just a two-year contract with Sporting KC. The deal will expire at the end of 2026, although Sporting KC have a two-year option on Miller. 

Miller was one of the first names on Sporting KC interim coach Kerry Zavagnin’s teamsheet week in, week out. The defender made 29 appearances for Sporting KC in 2025. Twenty-five of those appearances were starts. Sporting KC’s defense last season was downright bad, conceding a league-high 70 goals. Forty-nine of those goals were conceded with Miller on the pitch–over 50% of Sporting KC’s goals were allowed with Miller playing.

His individual stats were still promising. Miller posted 35 tackles, 29 blocked shots, and 101 ball recoveries. However, those numbers also show just how under pressure Sporting KC’s defense was in the 29 appearances Miller made. The Wizards and Miller kept just four clean sheets. 

Miller’s 2025 was a thing of the past for a player of his stature. It is rare for players straight out of college to play as extensively as he did–especially as a center-back. That shows just how much MLS has evolved over the last three decades. 

Yet, it also shows just how bad Sporting KC were in 2025. Zavagnin had a free-hit for the season. As interim coach, he was auditioning for the job, or a coaching role somewhere else in MLS. Zavagnin was happy to give Miller, a young, inexperienced professional, a chance. Oftentimes, it is easier for interim coaches to call upon youthful, inexperienced players rather than veterans with bigger egos. 

Compared to Sporting KC’s veteran center-backs, Robert Voloder (18 appearances) and Joaquin Fernandez (17 appearances), Miller was given the chance to play, make mistakes, and develop. However, with a new sporting director and head coach in charge, Miller has dropped down the roster depth chart. 

A new regime, a new reality

Miller played infrequently in preseason. Wicky favored James and Meyer in defense. Since then, Meyer and Bartlow have become the preferred center-back pairing. 

That doesn’t mean the Saint Louis-native hasn’t played in 2026. Miller has in fact made four appearances, with one start. Miller’s lone start came against San Diego FC. However, Miller didn’t start at center-back, rather he started at right-back due to injuries to Justin Reynolds and James. Miller has played a mere 115 minutes in four games. The team conceded one goal in that time, which is a positive step in the right direction. 

Miller’s contract could be the biggest indicator of what happens next. Lee has already shown that he won’t let a player’s contract run out and leave for free, if he can help it. The sale of Daniel Salloi to Toronto FC two days before the 2026 MLS season started was proof of the new mindset in Kansas City. 

So, what next for Jansen Miller?

Lee could use Miller to help build the squad going forward, packaging him in a trade with another MLS side. However, as I’ve previously said, how many of the Sporting KC players that started the season with the club would be on another MLS team’s roster? The answer is just a few. 

Miller’s contract is club-friendly. He earns just over $80,000 this season. If Sporting KC decide to move Miller on, the salary won’t hit another team’s cap hard. It also won’t hurt Sporting KC if they decide to keep Miller for the remainder of the campaign. 

The defender’s usefulness could keep him at the club for the remainder of the season and beyond. Sporting KC still need another right-back. Reynolds is the club’s starting No. 2, but a back-up is needed. Miller and James can both fill in at the position if needed. 

In addition, there is no guarantee new signing Blorian and Borges will be successful. There is always risk when making transfer signings. Therefore, Miller could still play a significant role with the team this season.