Sporting Kansas City sign veteran free agent Brad Evans

TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Signing

Brad Evans is officially departing the Seattle Sounders after eight seasons, officially signing a free agent contract with Sporting Kansas City in a deal first reported by the Kansas City Star last week.

The 32-year-old defender/midfielder departs Seattle after winning the 2016 MLS Cup and four US Open Cup championships, and he also won an MLS Cup with Columbus Crew SC in 2008. He joins Sporting on a one-year deal with an option for 2019 following an injury-shortened 2017 season, in which a herniated disk limited him to 11 league appearances -- none after Aug. 5.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to join Sporting Kansas City and help the club pursue championships,” Evans said in a statement. “This is an exciting new chapter in my career and I can’t wait to play in front of an amazing fan base at Children’s Mercy Park. I would also like to thank the entire Seattle Sounders organization and their fans for all of their support over the last nine years.”

At his best, Evans has been a versatile and productive MLS player and occasional international contributor. He has 28 goals and 31 assists over 255 league and playoff appearances, and 27 caps for the US national team.

In part because of a shift in role, he's been less of an offensive contributor over the last four seasons, scoring three goals and contributing eight assists. He should provide depth in several positions for Sporting, including right back, left back, center back and central midfield.

“We are very fortunate to welcome Brad to our club,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said. “With his mentality and work ethic, we know what he can bring to Sporting KC, and for us to add a player with such high character and experience is an incredible opportunity. We are excited for him to be a part of our locker room.”

MLS Fantasy Impact: You can add Evans ($5.0M) to your team right now. Start playing!