Sporting Kansas City has announced the acquisition of 24-year-old forward Andre Luiz from Greek club Olympiacos FC in a club-record transfer. The announcement was made today, confirming that Luiz will join Sporting as a Designated Player. He has signed a five-year contract that extends through the 2030-2031 season and will take up an international roster spot, pending the receipt of his P1 visa and International Transfer Certificate.

Luiz's Impressive Career Journey

Luiz is the fifth Designated Player signed by Sporting since 2018. He arrives in Kansas City following a standout season in Europe, where he made a significant impact while playing for Rio Ave FC in Portugal. During the first half of the 2025-2026 season, he recorded seven goals and six assists in just 19 appearances. His performance included a remarkable late equalizer against Benfica, managed by Jose Mourinho, on September 23, 2025.

Before his time in Portugal, Luiz developed at America Football Club in Rio de Janeiro and later joined the CF Flamengo academy in 2020. He excelled at the U-20 level, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 17 matches, which led to his professional debut with Flamengo's first team on December 9, 2021. He made nine appearances for Flamengo, scoring his first senior goal against Resende FC on February 18, 2023, before moving to Portugal for a loan with Estrela da Amadora during the 2023-2024 season.

Excitement from Sporting's Management

David Lee, President of Soccer Operations and General Manager, expressed enthusiasm about Luiz's arrival, stating, “We are extremely excited to welcome Andre to Sporting Kansas City. Andre is a dynamic player with pace, directness and technical ability who is coming off an excellent season in Portugal and Greece.” Lee emphasized that Luiz fits the club's strategy of adding quality players who are still in their prime years.

With his proven track record and potential, Luiz is expected to make a significant contribution to Sporting Kansas City as they look to enhance their roster for the upcoming seasons.