KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Sporting Kansas City has made a significant move by signing Brazilian forward André Luiz as a designated player. The club has secured Luiz on a five-year contract for a record transfer fee from Greek club Olympiacos, amounting to $18 million, as confirmed by a source to ESPN's Jeff Carlisle. This transfer surpasses the previous club record of $7.5 million, which was paid to Mexican club Chivas for Alan Pulido. The completion of Luiz's transfer is subject to the receipt of his visa and international transfer certificate.

André Luiz's Impressive Background

André Luiz, who is 24 years old, has been recognized for his dynamic playing style, characterized by pace, directness, and technical skill. David Lee, the president of soccer operations for Sporting KC, expressed enthusiasm about the signing, noting that Luiz is coming off an excellent season in both Portugal and Greece. "André was highly coveted in some of the top leagues in the world," Lee stated, emphasizing the player's potential to enhance the team's roster.

Luiz's career began at America Football Club in Rio de Janeiro, where he later joined the Flamengo academy. He earned his first professional opportunity with Flamengo's first team before going on loan to Portuguese club Estrela during the 2023-2024 season. He then signed with Rio Ave in January 2025, where he had a breakout season, contributing seven goals and six assists before moving to Olympiacos.

Sporting KC's Rebuilding Efforts

Sporting Kansas City is currently in a rebuilding phase, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference with a record of 4-2-13. Under new principal owner Peter Mallouk, the club has been making strategic changes, including the hiring of new front-office executives and first-year head coach Raphael Wicky. The acquisition of André Luiz is part of a series of bold roster moves aimed at revitalizing the team's performance, following an unsuccessful attempt to sign Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.

With the addition of André Luiz, Sporting Kansas City aims to strengthen its squad and improve its standing in the league as they look to the future.