Sporting Kansas City sign French midfielder Yohan Croizet to DP contract

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing


Sporting Kansas City have been rumored to be going after three Designated Players this winter.


On Friday, they made their first move.


SKC announced that they signed 25-year-old French midfielder Yohan Croizet in a transfer from Belgian side KV Mechelen. Croizet has signed a deal through 2020 with an option for 2021. The Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell first reported the signing on Tuesday.


“We are thrilled to complete the signing of Yohan Croizet, a player who embodies many of the qualities we look for at this club,” SKC manager Peter Vermes said in a statement released by the club. “We all look forward to him coming to Kansas City and joining our organization.”


Croizet has 31 goals in more than 200 professional appearances across Europe. He spent the last three seasons in the Belgian top flight, where he has tallied 12 goals and 11 assists in 71 appearances since 2015. He has three assists in 15 appearances in 15 appearances in the 2017-18 season.


Croizet began his pro career as a 19-year-old in 2011 when he debuted for French Ligue 2 club FC Metz. He scored seven goals in 57 matches for Metz from 2011 to 2013, when he moved to Belgian second division club RE Virton. He moved to first-division club OH Leuven in 2014, then joined Mechelen in 2016.


“This is a successful team with a great stadium, training center and fans,” Croizet said. “It has been my dream to play in MLS, so I am happy to join Sporting KC.”