Felipe Gutierrez Signs with Sporting Kansas City as DP

Sporting Kansas City have added midfielder Felipe Gutierrez to their roster as a Designated Player on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old joins the Western Conference club on a three-year contract through 2020. Gutierrez is a well-traveled player having previously played in Europe and South America.

Career Profile

Gutierrez’s career began in his home country of Chile with Universidad Catolica at the age of 18. In 83 appearances for the club, he scored 21 goals and produced 20 assists.

In 2012, the midfielder made the move to Europe as he joined FC Twente in the Netherlands. He made 108 appearances for the first team scoring 10 goals and recording nine assists. His time with Twente included multiple knee injuries which sidelined him at times in the 2012-13 and 2014-15 seasons.

One of his greatest personal achievements came in the 2013-14 season with FC Twente as he was named the Dutch Eredivisie’s Most Valuable Player.

Real Betis was the next club for Gutierrez as the La Liga side brought him in following their promotion back to the Spanish top flight in 2016. He would go on to make 16 appearances for the Spanish club and scored one goal.

Gutierrez was quickly loaned to Sport Club Internacional in Brazil in March of 2017 where he made 16 appearances with one goal and an assist.

One of the many positive things Gutierrez will bring to Sporting Kansas City is international experience at the top-level. He first made his debut with the Chilean national team in 2010. The midfielder has since played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Copa America. In 34 appearances he has scored four goals for Chile.

In 2015 he was a member of Chile’s Copa America winning team, which is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of his career thus far.

Looking Ahead

Gutierrez should be a player that is a mainstay in the starting XI for Sporting. He should fit in well with the midfield and can play in multiple roles.

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Manager Peter Vermes had this to say.

"“Felipe has a tremendous amount of experience playing in very difficult environments in top-level competitions,” Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said in a statement. “He also possesses the DNA that we look for in players that fit our style. He is excited about joining the club and we are ecstatic for him to be a part of our team.”"

This is another great signing for Major League Soccer as a whole. Gutierrez’s experience and talent will only add to the exciting things to come for the upcoming season.