Sporting Kansas City signed James Musa from USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers on Aug. 11, 2017. A citizen of the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Musa has inked an MLS contract for the remainder of the 2017 season with options for 2018, 2019 and 2020. Capable of playing as a holding midfielder or center back, he becomes the fourth player to sign for Sporting Kansas City from the Swope Park Rangers, following goalkeeper Adrian Zendejas and defenders Amer Didic and Tyler Pasher.
2017: MLS Regular Season: Started one match (90 minutes played). Made his MLS debut with a start at Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 12, leading all players in passes (78) and touches (84). Open Cup: Did not feature. Swope Park Rangers: Made 19 starts in his first season with Sporting KC's USL affiliate, earning Swope Park Rangers MVP honors. MLS Cup Playoffs: Did not feature.
2016: Played in 27 games for Saint Louis FC, adding three goals and three assists. Musa scored his first goal of the season against Orange County Blues FC in a 3-1 win on April 2 before adding his second in a 5-2 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on May 21. His third goal came when he scored the opener in a 2-1 win over Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on July 23. All three of Musa’s assists came in the 7-1 victory over Tulsa Roughnecks FC on June 11. He placed second on the team in minutes played with 2,366 and led the team with seven yellow cards. Musa was also shown a straight red card in Saint Louis FC’s penultimate game of the season against Louisville City FC.
2015: Made 24 appearances, all starts, and added two goals in his first season with Saint Louis FC. Musa scored his first USL goal in a 5-2 loss to FC Montreal on July 15 before adding the game-winning goal in a 2-0 win over the Charlotte Independence on Sept. 12. He made his debut for the club by playing the full 90 minutes in the season opener against Louisville City FC on March 28. Musa placed fourth on the team in minutes played with 2,155 while his five yellow cards placed him in a tie for second on the team.
Before USL: Musa began his professional career in 2010 when he signed with Wellington Phoenix FC – a New Zealand-based team that competes in the Australian A-League. Musa then played for lower-league side Waitakere City FC in 2011 before joining Team Wellington FC in the New Zealand Football Championship a year later. After impressing for the New Zealand Under-23 National Team at the London 2012 Summer Olympics, Musa was offered a trial by then English Premier League side Fulham FC and signed with the club. A loan spell at Hereford United FC in the Conference followed before returning to Team Wellington in New Zealand in 2013. Musa played one season with Team Wellington before signing with Australian National Premier Leagues Victoria side South Melbourne in 2014. Musa then headed back to Team Wellington after one season in Australia before joining Saint Louis FC in 2015.
International (3 caps): Musa has earned his first cap for the New Zealand National Team on May 30, 2014, coming in a friendly against South Africa. He previously represented New Zealand at the Under-20 and Under-23 levels, including three appearances at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup and one appearance for the U-23s at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. 2017: Musa returned to New Zealand's senior team for the OFC Final Playoff in September 2017. He played 26 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 6-1 first-leg victory over Solomon Islands, making his first appearance for the All Whites in more than three years. He played 13 minutes in a 2-2 second-leg draw as New Zealand won the tie 8-3 on aggregate to advance to November's World Cup playoff.
