Sporting KC adds 2nd signing of summer transfer window. This player is versatile winger

Injuries exposed a lack of depth across Sporting Kansas City’s four main attacking positions. The club’s answer? Dip into the summer transfer window like never before.

After announcing the acquisition of William Agada Thursday morning, Sporting KC on Thursday afternoon announced the signing of German Bundesliga veteran Erik Thommy, who’ll arrive on a free transfer after his contract with VfB Stuttgart runs out June 30.

He will join Sporting KC on a two-year deal running through 2024, with an option for 2025. He will occupy an international roster spot pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P1 visa.

Thommy told Sporting KC broadcaster Nate Bukaty that his early conversations with Sporting’s staff gave him a good feeling about KC.

“They had a lot of information about the way I play football, about my character,” Thommy said. “Sometimes you have that feeling inside, and my feelings said yes.”

The move to try a new country, culture, and language was attractive to him and his wife. In addition, he has kept an eye on the growth of MLS and wants to test himself and challenge himself abroad for the first time.

“The MLS developed in the last few years a lot,” Thommy said. “They have great facilities, great fans, great stadiums and it’s attractive football. It’s a big challenge for me and I want to try it. It’s a big step out of Germany for me.”

Thommy has played primarily as a winger during his career in Germany, which includes 42 goals and 33 assists across nine seasons. But Sporting KC sees Thommy more as an attacking midfielder who would play a role similar to veteran Gadi Kinda’s.

While Thommy admits his favorite place on the field is the left wing, he’s comfortable playing different positions.

“In the last two years I’ve played like four, five different positions,” he said. “It’s good for my (versatility), so the trainer can decide if you play as a winger or as a 10. I’ve played every position, but I feel most comfortable on the left side.”

That bodes well for Sporting KC’s style of play. Kinda and Daniel Salloi form a great partnership on the left side of the field because of how closely they play together. That opens up more room on the left and allows Johnny Russell to isolate defenders 1v1 in space.

Thommy developed at multiple academies across Germany before joining FC Augsburg’s academy to play with their U-17 and U-19 teams before signings with FC Augsburg II in 2013. He made his Bundesliga debut with Augsburg in 2014.

He was loaned back and forth between Augsburg and FC Kaiserslautern before spening the 2016-17 in the German third division with Jahn Regensburg. He scored eight goals and made seven assists as Regensburg was promoted to the 2. Bundesliga.

He transferred to VfB Stuttgart in winter 2018 and was then loaned to Fortuna Dusseldorf during the 2019-20 season. Playing with the U.S. Men’s National Team’s Zack Steffen, Thommy appeared in all 34 matches for Dusseldorf, notching six goals and five assists.

As far as how Thursday’s second move affects Sporting KC’s roster, the team has now filled all eight of its allotted international slots; three roster spots remain open.

Sporting KC placed Kinda on the season-ending injury list prior to the closure of the primary transfer window in late April. That freed up the necessary international roster spots to acquire both Agada and Thommy.

This story was originally published June 23, 2022 at 2:11 PM with the headline "Sporting KC adds 2nd signing of summer transfer window. This player is versatile winger."