Sporting Kansas City acquired 24-year-old Amobi Okugo from Orlando City SC on Monday in exchange for midfielder Servando Carrasco. Okugo has been added to Sporting Kansas City’s roster and will be eligible for selection ahead of Friday’s road match at Real Salt Lake.
“Servando has been a class act and I can't say enough about his professionalism and work ethic. He’s a true team guy and we thank him for his service here,” Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said. “Amobi can play three different positions and that kind of versatility is valuable to have on the roster. We are extremely excited that we were able to get him.”
Okugo has logged 132 MLS appearances as a central defender and holding midfielder in six professional seasons since being selected sixth overall by the Philadelphia Union in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft as a Generation adidas signing out of UCLA. He started all 20 games in his only collegiate season for the Bruins, earning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors and being named the Most Valuable Player at the 2010 MLS Player Combine.
Okugo represented the United States extensively at the youth national team levels and attended the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida for three semesters with the U.S. U-17’s from 2006-2007. He went on to appear at the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championships before playing for the U.S. U-23’s at the 2012 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
In 2011, Okugo was a member of Major League Soccer’s Generation adidas roster that was led by Vermes during a tour of the Netherlands. Between 2012-2014, Okugo led all MLS players with 70 blocks and was fourth in the league with 276 interceptions.
He was included on MLSsoccer.com’s “24 under 24” rankings of the league’s top youth talent each of the past two seasons (8th in 2013, 13th in 2014) and joined Orlando City SC for their inaugural MLS campaign in 2015 after leading the Union through their first five MLS seasons. Okugo appeared in 17 of Orlando City SC’s 22 matches across all competition this year, including two U.S. Open Cup appearances, for the Lions.
Transaction: Orlando City SC (MLS) trades Amobi Okugo to Sporting Kansas City (MLS) in exchange for Servando Carrasco
VITALS
Amobi Okugo (A-Moby Oh-KOO-go)
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Number: TBD
Born: 3/13/1991
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Last Club: Orlando City SC
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Birthplace: Hayward, California
Citizenship: USA
Twitter: @amobisays
Instagram: @amobisays
