Sporting KC’s Berg Johnsen in line to debut Saturday. Here’s what he brings

Sporting Kansas City finally has clearance to begin playing one of its biggest signings of the Major League Soccer offseason.

A number of new players have already made debuts for Sporting KC (0-1-2) this season. But none has been more anticipated than that of Lasse Berg Johnsen, one of the team’s marquee acquisitions.

The 26-year-old Norwegian obtained his requisite P-1 visa last week, making him immediately eligible to play for Sporting KC in MLS matches. His flight to KC from Norway landed after midnight, however, mere hours ahead of Kansas City’s match against San Diego last weekend.

It would’ve been a shock if he’d played in that match last week. Now, however, Berg Johnsen has had a full week of training with his new team and has traveled with Sporting KC to Los Angeles, where he could make his debut on Saturday night against the Galaxy.

Sporting KC coach Raphael Wicky on Friday said Berg Johnsen has quickly integrated into the group.

“He’s still a young player, but an experienced player,” Wicky said. “He (has) this personality where he also gives a lot to integrate when he’s in the group, immediately talking to players, trying to create relationships with the players.”

At 26, Berg Johnsen is young. But on this roster? Of the 23 players on Sporting’s roster right now, 15 are 25 or younger.

“It’s a young team to help with my experience,” Berg Johnsen told The Star.

Berg Johnsen’s ability to create as a deep-lying midfielder is something that will excite both the SKC coaching staff and fans alike. Wicky is described him as someone who reads the game well and can dictate the tempo of the game by how, when and where he passes the ball.

In recent matches, Manu Garcia has played deeper than normal (for him), while Shapi Suleymanov has been deputized as a bit of a connector and transition outlet. Wicky doesn’t expect to change how he sets up the team to accommodate Berg Johnsen.

“We may have to move around a few positions,” Wicky said earlier this week. “But that was the plan from the beginning since we identified Lasses as a holding six.”

One of those things may be to move Garcia higher up the field.

“That was one of our thoughts from the beginning, that Manu can play a little bit higher up,” Wicky said. “And that’s for sure something we will have to look at as a staff in the coming weeks.”

In an interview with The Star, Berg Johnson said he is aligned with the vision and plans laid out by Wicky and general manager David Lee.

Berg Johnsen’s time with Malmö certainly made him aware of some of Wicky’s teams in Switzerland — he watched them compete in the Champions League. Berg Johnsen noted Wicky’s attacking mindset and focus on dominating foes in possession.

“Not to only have the ball, but to create chances,” Berg Johnsen said. “He also wants to defend higher on the pitch, which I love. I love that press when we lose the ball … that we want to have the initiative in the game.

“This is how I see football, and how I want to play football.”

Berg Johnsen was impressive in training sessions that were visible to media this week. His team dominated a “winner stays” small-sided competition and he scored a beautiful curling shot with his left foot.

Whether he can make an immediate impact in MLS play is a question that will be answered in short order.

Injury update

Sporting KC will still be without Zorhan Bassong and Justin Reynolds this weekend in L.A., as well as young defender Ian James.

Daniel Sperry covers soccer for The Star. He can be reached at sperry.danielkc@gmail.com.

This story was originally published March 14, 2026 at 6:30 AM.