Why the Kansas City Current made a flurry of roster moves ahead of NWSL’s restart
The Kansas City Current women’s soccer club has remained busy during the summer transfer window, announcing two moves Wednesday following an early-week trade.
Departed is of one of last season’s summer signings, Brazilian Lauren Leal (known mononymously as Lauren), to Atletico de Madrid via a free transfer. In return, the Current will receive a cut from any future transfer fees Lauren may have.
When KC signed Lauren — under previous general manager Camille Ashton — the team had needs at the center-back spot and was starting multiple rookies due to injuries. It was hoped that Lauren would play alongside Danish World Cup veteran Stine Ballisager, but Lauren never saw regular minutes with the starting lineup.
Part of the problem: The injuries that had exacerbated the Current’s center-back problem eventually healed. Gabrielle Robinson and Elizabeth Ball solidified the back line; Ball and Ballisager formed a steady starting duo and KC also made a move for Alana Cook.
Lauren was impressive this summer during Brazil’s silver-medal run at the Paris Olympics, making the case that she deserves to be playing somewhere — even if it’s not in Kansas City or the National Women’s Soccer League.
Current coach Vlatko Andonovski said Wednesday the club wants to do what’s right for itself and its players.
“We want to do things right for this team, but we also want to do things right for the players,” he said. “One of the things we are doing right is allowing Lauren to be in an environment where she can thrive, develop, and get better. She believes the situation at Athletico Madrid is going to be better for her.”
That move freed up an international slot on the roster (the Current has seven such slots now), but club officials had it filled within hours, announcing the acquisition of Hildah Magaia on loan from Mazatlan Femenil of Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil.
Nicknamed “Breadwinner” for her goal-scoring ability, the striker scored twice in the 2023 Women’s World Cup as South Africa made its first appearance in the tournament’s knockout phase.
Magaia scored 36 goals in South Africa during the 2019-20 season before moving on to South Korea, where she led Sejong Sportstot in scoring with nine goals in 21 games last season.
“We have been watching Hildah play for some time, and we’re very happy that we can bring her to Kansas City now,” Andonovski said in a news release announcing her arrival in KC. “We feel that she can be a great part of this team going forward.”
The Current might seem at first glance to have a crowded corps of forwards, but winger Alexa Spaanstra was dealt to the Portland Thorns earlier this week. In return, the Current received $40,000 ($15,000 in allocation money and $25,000 in “intra-league transfer” funds).
The Current selected Spaanstra 10th overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft. She’s recorded three goals and two assists in a little over 1,000 minutes of NWSL competition.
KC resumes league play this weekend, traveling to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Spirit at 11 a.m. Central Time on Sunday.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.