Sporting KC adds defensive depth as Amadou Dia returns to the club
After conceding a team-record 61 goals during league play in 2019, Sporting Kansas City continued to bolster its defensive options Friday with the signing of left-back Amadou Dia.
Dia was immediately added to Kansas City’s 2020 roster and has contract options running through 2022.
Dia, 26, was drafted by Kansas City as the 20th overall pick in the 2015 MLS Super Draft and went on to make 37 appearances for the club in all competitions in 2015 and 2016. During that time he made four starts during Sporting’s 2015 U.S. Open Cup championship run and played a part in helping the team make the playoffs both years.
He was traded to the Montreal Impact in June 2016 before joining the United Soccer League’s Phoenix Rising FC a year later.
“I’m really excited to come back,” Dia told The Star. “When I was here for my first year, it was amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to come for my rookie year. Seeing all the new improvements to the facility and everything it just looks like the club has got better.”
During his three-year stint with Phoenix, Dia was named the team’s defensive player of the year in 2018 and 2019, picking up four goals and eight assists along the way. He was part of a rock-solid defense that helped Phoenix win an American pro soccer-record 20 straight league games between May and September 2019, starting 18 times.
“It really was an amazing experience. I did a lot of growing while I was down there,” Dia said. “Going down to the USL just gave me a reality check and so it took me down a little bit from my pedestal that I thought I was on.”
While in Phoenix, Dia got the chance to work with the plethora of internationally recognized staff that coach and play with that team, including Chelsea FC legend and club owner Didier Drogba and New York Red Bulls standout Shaun Wright-Phillips.
“We are excited to welcome Amadou back to the club as we begin preparations for the 2020 season,” Sporting Kansas City manager and director Peter Vermes said.
Dia is the second defender to join Kansas City’s ranks this winter. Croatian defender Roberto Puncec was added on the back line after signing in December. With the departure of left-back Seth Sinovic to free agency, Dia should be expected to deputize starting left-back Luis Martins.
“I look forward to working with him and I love the competition,” Dia said. “I think it’s a great part of the game to have somebody that’s really good to compete against you.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to it — as they say, ‘may the best man win,’ but I’ll do whatever I have to to help the team, whether that’s to start or come off the bench.”
Dias hasn’t been in contact with Vermes much yet, but he said he has spoken with assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin, who expects Dia to “keep my head down and do anything I can to help to the club.”
The French-born defender is set to join up with the club next week before the team travels to Arizona for the Visit Tuscon Sun Cup preseason tournament. While there, Sporting will face Real Salt Lake, the New York Red Bulls and Dia’s former club, Phoenix Rising FC.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Sporting KC adds defensive depth as Amadou Dia returns to the club."