Bolstering midfield, Sporting KC brings back fan favorite who helped win 2013 MLS Cup
Sporting Kansas City finalized its second signing in as many days on Tuesday, securing free-agent defensive midfielder Uri Rosell on a two-year contract through 2023, with an option for 2024.
Rosell’s contract with Orlando City SC ran out following the 2021 season. Orlando opened negotiations with the Spanish defensive midfielder, but Rosell, having kept up a good relationship with Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes and assistant coach Kerry Zavagnin, opted to enter free agency and sign with Kansas City.
Rosell was a starter for Sporting KC from 2012-14. He helped the club win the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and 2013 MLS Cup. His return makes him the 14th player in franchise history to serve two stints with KC.
“Honestly, I knew that I wanted to come (back) and I knew that we wouldn’t have any problems with the contracts and everything,” Rosell said. “They gave me everything at the beginning, they trusted me at the beginning, so now I felt like it was the time for me to give them (something) back, too.
“I’m still in the position that I gained a lot of experience, and for me it was clear, knowing that they have this winning mentality right away, that it was time to come back home.”
It’s been a busy week of transactions for Sporting KC. On Monday, the team signed left back Ben Sweat to a two-year deal through 2023 with an option for 2024.
Rosell, 29, was originally signed by Vermes in August 2012, playing six games down the stretch that season before taking a big leap in 2013. During Sporting KC’s MLS Cup-winning campaign, Rosell started 41 of 42 matches across all competitions, leading the league in interceptions (130) and topping the club in successful passes and tackles won.
His 2014 season started just as well for Sporting before he was signed by Portuguese giant Sporting Lisbon in a deal reportedly worth $1.5 million to $1.8 million.
Rosell played in both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League with Lisbon and spent several seasons on loan with other clubs in Portugal before returning to Major League Soccer in 2018. In four seasons with Orlando, he appeared in 70 league matches and improved his career MLS passing accuracy to 86.9% and tackle success rate to 66.8%.
“I feel like right now I’m in a great spot because physically I’m still 29, but mentally I had the chance to play in the Champions League, Europa League, the first division in Portugal,” he said. “And then coming back in the league after these years in Orlando, I definitely feel like I can bring much more to the table than when I was here (last time).”
A native of Catalonia, Spain, Rosell joined FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy at age 14 in 2006 and competed alongside Sporting centerback Andreu Fontas. Rosell told The Star that the pair already had a dinner planned together for Tuesday night and will now get the chance to celebrate the occasion as teammates.
Rosell will most likely slot into the depth chart behind Jose Mauri in the No. 6 spot, filling the hole left by Ilie Sanchez, whose contract option was not exercised at the end of last season.
But with the return of the U.S. Open Cup and Leagues Cup in 2022, there should be plenty of chances for Rosell to feature.
“Obviously the tactics evolve, and I’ll have to catch up with them and be more specific about tactics and stuff,”he said. “But I don’t think it’ll be a big problem because what (Vermes) wants from me and what I expect from him is aligned.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Bolstering midfield, Sporting KC brings back fan favorite who helped win 2013 MLS Cup."