TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Sporting Kansas City have signed goalkeeper John Pulskamp to an MLS contract as a Homegrown player, per a Monday release from the club.
The 18-year-old backstop will be on a three-year deal through 2022, with a club option for 2023.
Pulskamp signed with SKC's USL Championship affiliate Swope Park Rangers (now known as Sporting Kansas City II) prior to last season from the LA Galaxy academy. He proved to be a standout presence in between the posts, leading the team in starts with 14 and making 45 saves. He played well during SKC's 2020 preseason campaign, managing to help the club to three clean sheets and doing enough to earn himself the MLS contract. As part of Monday's deal, Sporting KC sent the Galaxy $50,000 in 2020 General Allocation Money for Pulskamp's Homegrown rights.
"We're very excited about signing a young goalkeeper of John's quality, and more importantly, I'm proud of the way he has bet on himself, worked his way from the Sporting KC II and earned an MLS contract," SKC coach Peter Vermes said in the release. "Now it's about taking that next step as professional and we believe John will continue to improve as he gains more experience."
Before he joined SKC II, Pulskamp spent two seasons in the Galaxy Academy, featuring for the club's U-17 and U-19 U.S. Soccer Development Academy sides. He's also featured for the US U-20s, making his debut in a friendly against Mexico on January 18.
At 18, Pulskamp will be the second-youngest goalkeeper in franchise history.
