Sporting KC extends deal with Chilean striker Diego Rubio through 2018 season

Diego Rubio’s stay in Kansas City won’t be a short-term one after all.

Sporting Kansas City completed the permanent transfer of Rubio from Spanish club Real Valladolid on Thursday, replacing a loan deal that was set to expire at the end of the season.

The new contract will run through the 2018 season, and it includes a Sporting KC team option for 2019.

Rubio, a native of Chile, joined the club in March on a three-month loan that was later extended through the entire 2016 season. He has started six matches this year, recording two goals and one assist across all competitions while serving as the backup to striker Dom Dwyer.

“This is good news for both the club and for Diego,” Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes said. “I give a lot of credit to our staff, which did its due diligence to get the original loan deal for Diego done. That gave us ample time to see how he would integrate within our system. We were pleased with what we saw and look forward to his continued progression with our club.”

This story was originally published September 1, 2016 at 7:17 PM with the headline "Sporting KC extends deal with Chilean striker Diego Rubio through 2018 season."