Sporting Kansas City have bolstered their depth ahead of the 2015 season by signing two players with MLS experience.
The club announced on Tuesday that they have signed defender Kevin Ellis and midfielder Servando Carrasco. Per club policy, terms of the deals will not be disclosed.
"We're excited to have Kevin and Servando under contract and with the team as we start our preseason training camp," Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said in a team statement. "Each of them have different qualities to help bolster our squad."
Ellis enters his fifth season with Sporting KC after a career year in 2014, making 27 appearances across all competitions for the club with one goal and three assists. The Kansas City, Mo., native became the team's second Homegrown Player signing in 2011 as a product of the Sporting KC Academy and debuted during the 2011 US Open Cup. He made his MLS debut in 2013 and also played a combined 10 games in USL PRO while on loan with Orlando City SC (2013) and OKC Energy FC (2014) over the last two seasons.
He was part of the 2012 US Open Cup title-winning team, as well as the 2013 MLS Cup champion squad.
"There is no place I would rather play than Kansas City," Ellis said. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to play in front of my family and friends for the next few years and could not picture it any other way."
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Sporting acquired Carrasco's rights from the Houston Dynamo during the 2015 MLS SuperDraft in exchange for the club's second-round selection. Carrasco has made 60 appearances in four MLS seasons (including playoffs) with one goal and one assist from his defensive midfield position. He began his career with Seattle Sounders FC, who won the US Open Cup during his rookie season in 2011, and was traded to the Houston Dynamo during the 2013 campaign.
"I'm really excited to become a part of this organization, and I can't wait to get started," Carrasco said. "Having played against Kansas City over the years, two things instantly come to mind. One is the incredible support from the fan base and second is the style of play. It's no secret that this is a team that wants to dictate the tempo of the game, and it's exciting to have the opportunity to learn the system and continue to grow as a player."
