Sporting Kansas City announced on Tuesday the signing of 23-year-old Spanish midfielder Victor Muñoz. He will be added to the team's roster pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
"Victor is a player we saw in college and had train with us last year," Sporting manager Peter Vermes said in a club statement. "What we liked about him was that the style of play that he played over in Spain is something that definitely fits in with the way that we play. It's a good addition to our team and a young kid who we hope can grow into our system."
A native of Madrid, Muñoz spent eight years in the Real Madrid academy system and was a member of Spain's Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 youth national teams. After being recruited to Celta de Vigo's academy, Muñoz moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a college education.
As a freshman at Iona College, Muñoz was named the conference's Rookie of the Year with five assists for the Gaels. Muñoz then transferred to UCLA and helped the Bruins reach the NCAA College Cup with eight assists in his sophomore season en route to recording three goals and 26 assists during his collegiate career. His eight assists in 2013 led all UCLA players and he earned second team All-Pac 12 recognition as a senior.
Following his participation in the 2014 MLS Player Combine, D.C. United traded up to draft the left-footed Muñoz in the second round (No. 29 overall) of the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. He appeared in four games for D.C. United during the 2014 preseason but was released by the club last month.
"I am very excited to join Sporting Kansas City," Muñoz said in a club statement. "I trained here last summer and enjoyed everything about it, from the players to the environment. The team understands how to play the game the right way and I think this is the perfect place to continue my development."
Muñoz becomes one of three Spaniards – all midfielders – on Sporting KC's roster, joining Oriol Rosell and Antonio "Toni" Dovale.
