Sporting KC lines up summer back-line boost with addition of Israeli defender
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Signed Or Blorian on a three-year pre-contract through 2028/29 (starts Jun 2)
- Blorian stays with Be’er Sheva through title push; his deal begins June 2
- Pre-contract gets top defender free; he'll be available to play in mid-July
When Sporting KC general manager David Lee said the team was looking to bolster its back line, he wasn’t kidding.
Although this back-line boost will have to wait until the summertime.
Sporting KC on Friday morning announced the signing of Or Blorian, a center-back from Hapoel Be’er Sheva, via a three-year MLS “pre-contract” through the 2028-29 season.
The actual contract begins on June 2 and includes option years for the two seasons following 2028-29.
Blorian, 25, has made 186 career appearances in the Israeli Premier League and four appearances for the Israel national team.
“Or has demonstrated a deep desire to join us in Kansas City and fits the profile of a central defender that we have been looking for,” Lee said in a news release.
Blorian’s situation is somewhat unique. The pre-contract means he will finish out the remainder of his contract with Be’er Sheva as that team looks to win the Israeli Premier League. Players within a six-month window of the expiration of their contract can negotiate a pre-contract to make a free transfer to another team upon expiration of the current contract.
Lee acknowledged that Sporting KC had tried to come to an agreement with Be’er Sheva to bring Blorian to Kansas City in the current transfer window. But he said he understood the Israeli club’s desire to keep him through its current title push.
“We will support both Or and the club as they strive to achieve their objectives,” Lee said.
There is a benefit to handling the acquisition this way, as Sporting KC gets a player who’s widely regarded as the best defender in Israel without paying a transfer fee. And with the secondary transfer window opening July 13, Blorian will be available to play for Sporting when MLS returns to action on July 16 following the World Cup break.
Sporting will play 20 of its 34 MLS regular-season games after the World Cup.
Be’er Sheva was the league runner-up last season and has advanced to the Israel State Cup semifinals. The last time Be’er Sheva won the Israeli Premier League was in the 2017-18 season.
Blorian was born in Petah Tikva, Israel and played for Hapoel Petah Tikva from 2019-22. He was signed by Be’er Sheva in the 2022-23 season and played alongside current Sporting KC winger Shapi Suleymanov.
Despite going on loan to Hapoel Tel Aviv the following season, Blorian has established himself with Be’er Sheva over the last two years. He has become an offensive threat as well, with two goals and four assists in 23 league appearances this season.
Sporting KC plays its home opener on Saturday night against the Columbus Crew. Kickoff at Sporting Park is slated for 7:30 p.m. Central Time.
Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.
This story was originally published February 27, 2026 at 8:01 AM.